LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


GIVEN  BY 


Theodore  A.  Rupprecht,  Jr. 


AGRICULTURE 


. 

V 


H ^ 


> 

f 

w 


T 

O 

o 


‘ { 

l, 

1 

r 

! 

o 

o 


&$+ 


- 


/ 


INFANTADO  RAM  “ GOLDEN  FLEECE.” 

The  Property  of  Col.  E.  S.  Stowell,  of  Cornwall,  Verwont. 


The  Farmer's 


STOCK  BREEDER’S 


BREEDING,  REARING  AND  DEALING  IN  HORSES, 
CATTLE,  SHEEP,  AND  SWINE. 

And  giving  plain  directions,  from  experience  as  to 

EVERYTHING  RELATING  TO  THE  PROFITABLE 
MANAGEMENT  OF 


THE  BARN  AND  THE  FARM  YARD 


INCLUDING  THE  PROPER 
VETERINARY  TREATMENT  OF  DOMESTIC 
ANIMALS. 

Compiled  from  the  writings  of  Clater,  Mills,  Skinner  & Youatt  with 
the  results  of  personal  practice  and  observation. 


TO 


By  JOSEPH  H.  TOWNLEY. 


NEW  YORK: 

WOKED  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY, 
122  Nassau  Street. 


C Sk . oo 
TGCZ  f 


PREFAC 


AGRICULTURE  LIBRARY 

MAR  6 1992 

University  of  llHnoia 


TO  THE 


SEVENTH  ENGLISH  EDITION. 


Since  the  publication  of  the  last  edition  of  this  work 
a kind  of  revolution  has  taken  place  in  Cattle  Medicine. 
Veterinary  practitioners  had  been  strangely  forgetful  of 
the  proper  extent  of  their  professional  duty,  and  the 
treatment  of  the  diseases  of  cattle  had,  with  few  excep- 
tions, (but  among  which  we  may  justly  rank  the  original 
author  of  “ Every  Man  his  own  Cattle  Doctor,’’)  remain- 
ed in  the  hands  of  the  uneducated  and  the  ignorant.  It 
has  now,  however,  begun  to  be  understood  that  all 
domesticated  animals  are  the  legitimate  objects  of  the 
veterinarian’s  care;  and  veterinary  surgeons  of  no  mean 
eminence  do  not  think  it  a degradation  to  practise  on 
the  diseases  of  cattle,  and  sheep,  and  dogs,  and  swine. 
Public  lectures  on  these  subjects  are  at  length  delivered, 
in  the  University  of  London,  and  at  Edinburgh,  and  a 
knowledge  of  this  branch  of  veterinary  medicine  has 
wonderfully  increased. 

Under  such  circumstances  the  proprietors  of  this  work 
have  endeavoured  to  discharge  their  duty  to  thp  public. 
A new  edition  being  required,  they  have  obtained  the 
assistance  of  an  eminent  practitioner  of  both  horse  and 
cattle  medicine,  who,  while  he  has  retained  all  that  was 
useful  in  the  former  edition  (and  there  was  a great  deal 
that  was  truly  valuable,  and  particularly  with  regard  to 
the  symptoms  of  diseases),  has  endeavoured  to  keep  pace 
with  the  progress  of  the  art.  The  book  is  in  a manner 
re-written;  and  the  additions  on  the  diseases  of  swine, 
now  for  the  first  time  thrown  into  a regular  and  scientific 
form,  in  the  English  language,  will  be  found  peculiarly 
valuable. 


PREFACE 


TO  THE 

FIRST  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


“ There  are  two  great  sources  of  the  mortality  of  cattle  and  sneep  and  the  oss 
of  agricultural  property ; and  it  is  difficult  to  say  which  is  Ifee  worst,— the  ignorance 
and  obstinacy  of  the  servant  and  the  cow-leech,  or  the  ignorance  and  supineness  of 
the  owner.”  Voujltt. 


The  beneficence  of  an  all- wise  Providence  in  so  organizing 
man  as  to  secure  him  dominion  over  animals  of  inferior  physical 
construction,  imposes  on  him  the  obligation  to  exercise  that  emi- 
nent advantage  in  a spirit  of  mercy,  and  in  mitigation  of  the 
pains  and  disorders  of  the  brute  creation ; and  both  the  obliga- 
tion and  the  necessity  to  do  so,  are  enhanced  by  the  considera- 
tion, that  in  being  domesticated  and  made  subservient  to  our 
uses,  animals  lose  in  a great  measure  that  instinct  which  enables 
them  to  distinguish  what  is  noxious  from  that  which  is  whole- 
some, and  become,  as  does  the  human  race  in  the  process  of 
civilization,  liable  to  numerous  and  complicated  diseases  to  which 
they  are  comparatively  strangers  when  roaming  in  the  simple 
habits  and  unrestrained  freedom  of  nature. 

Assuredly,  there  is  no  great  charity  in  the  creed  which  would 
teach  that  of  all  the  variety  of  God’s  creation  that  make  up  his 
animal  kingdom,  some  of  them  displaying  high  culture  and  fine 
affections  of  mind  and  heart,  he  should  care  alone  foi  the  pre* 
sent  and  future  happiness  of  man  ! 

44  Know  Nature’s  children  all  divide  her  care; 

The  fur  that  warms  a monarch  warmed  a bear ; 

While  man  exclaims,  4 See  all  things  for  my  use  I* 

4 See  man  for  mine,’  replies  a pampered  goose : 

And  just  as  short  of  reason  must  he  fall 
Who  thinks  all  made  for  one,  not  one  for  alL” 

1*  V.) 


v» 


PREFACF. 


To  the  sparseness  of  our  agricultural  population,  we  may 
probably  attribute,  in  a great  measure,  the  absence  of  a class  of 
persons,  well  supported  in  Europe,  who  profess  to  treat  scienti- 
fically, the  diseases  of  domestic  animals.  There,  the  study  of 
comparative  anatomy  has  served  to  illustrate  and  improve  the 
science  of  medicine.  More  especially  was  it  subservient  to  that 
end  in  past  ages  of  superstition,  when  the  dissection  of  the  human 
body  was  regarded  as  sacrilegious.  The  discovery,  says  Doctor 
Hush,  of  the  salivary  glands  in  an  ox  — of  the  fallopian  tubes  in 
an  ewe  — of  the  thoracic  duct  in  a horse  — of  the  lacteals  in  a 
kid  — and  of  the  pancreas  in  a turkey,  led  to  the  discovery  of 
the  same  parts  in  the  human  body ; and  it  is  well  known  that 
the  circulation  of  the  blood  and  of  the  peristaltic  motion  of  the 
bowels,  in  man,  were  first  suggested  by  experiments  and  obser- 
vations on  animals  of  the  lower  order.  Their  physical  structure 
and  complaints  have,  in  fact,  for  years  past,  been  the  subject  of 
regular  lectures  by  the  ablest  Professors  in  the  Universities  of 
London  and  Edinburgh ; and  hence  it  is,  that  there,  improve- 
ments in  the  veterinary  have  kept  pace  with  the  progress  of 
other  useful  arts,  until  it  has  reached,  in  practice,  a high  degree 
of  certainty,  and  of  honour  as  an  intellectual  profession.  Under 
such  auspices,  and  assurances  of  authority  and  excellence,  har 
this  ninth  edition  of  * Clayter’s  every  man  his  own  Cattli 
Doctor1’  been  published  in  England  — compounded,  not  by 
ignorant  cow-leeches,  and  made  up  of  nostrums  to  be  adminis- 
tered without  judgment  or  discretion,  but  embodying  the  mature 
results  of  careful  and  scientific  research. 

In  tne  hands  of  the  American  Editor,  the  work  now  presented 
has  undergone  no  alteration  of  matter  or  arrangement.  He  has 
not  presumed  to  disturb  what  he  could  not  hope  to  amend ; but 
some  additions  have  been  made  in  the  confident  hope  of  render- 
ing this  edition  more  acceptable  by  making  it  more  useful  to  the 
American  reader.  These  additions  will  be  found  to  consist  of 
essays  and  illustranons  intended  to  diffuse  such  information  on 


PREFACE. 


ne  general  subject,  as  may  well  be  coveted  by  every  Gentleman 
Farmer,  and  to  lead  to  important  practical  reforms.  He  has 
endeavoured  particularly  to  impress  his  own  persuasion,  that  a 
more  general  use  of  oxen  in  place  of  horses , would  be  highly 
expedient  and  economical,  accompanying  his  reflections  on  this 
topic  with  ample  instructions  as  to  breeding,  breaking,  and  gear- 
ing them. 

Deeming  familiarity  with  the  names  of  every  part  of  the 
animal  frame  essential  to  an  intelligent  treatment  of  accidental 
injuries  or  disorders  to  which  it  is  constantly  exposed,  anatomical 
delineations  have,  for  that  purpose,  been  introduced,  which  are 
not  given  in  the  English  work.  For  the  same  purpose,  and 
illustrated  in  like  manner,  certain  instruments  and  contrivances 
there  only  referred  to,  as  necessary  in  the  administration  of  re- 
lief in  certain  dangerous  cases  of  common  occurrence,  will  be 
found  in  this  American  edition  — viz : the  stilet  prohang , for 
relieving  cattle  that  are  choked,  and  Read’s  Patent  Veterinary 
Syringe  or  Stomach  Pump,  to  be  used  for  the  extraction  of  gas, 
when  cattle  get  hoven , as  often  happens,  by  over-feeding  on 
green  and  wet  clover,  or  other  deleterious  substances. 

To  the  medical  part  of  the  work  in  the  shape  of  notes,  some 
recipes  have  been  appended,  consisting  of  elements  more  simple 
or  more  easily  procured  than  those  prescribed  in  the  text ; but 
only  such  have  been  thus  inserted  as  seemed  to  be  either  inno- 
cent in  themselves,  or  recommended  on  alleged  experience  and 
respectable  authority. 

To  say  nothing  of  the  duty  which  common  humanity  enjoins 
on  every  one,  to  be  prepared  with  common  medicines,  and 
directions  for  the  use  of  them,  which  may  enable  him  to  extend 
prompt  relief  to  speechless  suffering ; on  the  sordid  score  of  self- 
interest  alone,  the  most  calculating,  it  may  be  supposed,  will  not 
Qpsitate  to  provide  himself  with  a book  which  in  teaching  him 
2 


Vlll 


PREFACE. 


to  be  his  “ own  Cattle  Doctor,”  may  enable  him  to  save  the  life 
ev<?n  of  the  meanest  animal  on  his  estate.  In  a word,  the  want 
some  such  work  would  he  an  obvious  defect  in  every  farmer’s 
library,  however  small  it  may  be,  and  this  one  is  of  the  highest 
and  most  recent  authority  in  a country  where  the  subjects  of 
which  it  treats  have  been  most  carefully  investigated  and  are 
best  understood.  To  have  been  revised  and  sanctioned  by  Mr. 
Youatt,  as  it  is  believed  to  have  been,  is  of  itself  a sufficient 
title  to  public  confidence. 


J.  S,  S. 


CONTENTS. 


CATTLE. 

Introduction — Anatomy  and  Physiology  of  Neat  Cattle  . 13 

Chapter  I.  Inflammation 33 

II.  Bleeding,  its  utility,  and  in  what  cases 

necessary  . ....  35 

III.  On  Physic  36 

IV.  On  Setoning 38 

V.  Cold — Cough — Hoose  . . . .39 

YI.  Inflammation  of  the  Lungs  . . .43 

VII.  Rheumatism,  or  Joint  Felon  . . .44 

VIII.  Inflammation  of  the  Liver  . . .46 

IX.  The  Yellows,  or  Jaundice  . . .48 

X.  Inflammation  of  the  Brain  . . .49 

XI.  Inflammation  of  the  Bowels,  with  Costiveness  52 

XII.  Diarrhoea,  or  Purging  . . . .54 

XIII.  Dysentery,  Slimy  Flux;  or  Scouring  Rot  . 55 

XIY.  Red-water 58 

XV.  Garget,  or  the  Downfall  in  the  Udder  of  Cows  61 

XVT.  Treatment  of  the  Cow,  before  and  during 

Calving 64 

XVII.  The  Milk  Fever,  or  the  Drop  . . .69 

XVHI.  The  Brain,  &c. 73 

(“) 


1 


CONTENTS 


XIX.  The  Blood,  Blood-striking,  Black-leg,  Quarter- 
evil,  or  Black-quarter  .... 

XX.  Murrain,  or  Pestilential  Fever 

XXI.  The  Epidemic  of  1840  and  1841 

XXII.  Inflammation  of  the  Bladder  . . 

XXIII.  Stone  in  the  Urinary  Passages,  or  Bladder 

XXIV.  Diseases  of  the  Eye  .... 

XXV.  The  Hoove,  Hooven,  or  Blown 

XXVI.  Choking 

XXVII.  Locked  Jaw 

XXVIII.  Poisons  

XXIX.  Wounds 

XXX.  Strains  and  Bruises  .... 

XXXI.  Cancerous  Ulcers 

XXXII.  Angle  Berries 

XXXIII.  The  Foul  in  the  Foot  .... 

XXXIV.  To  Dry  a Cow  of  her  Milk 
XXXV.  The  Mange  ...... 

XXXVI.  To  produce  Bulling  in  the  Cow,  and  Treat- 
ment of  Bull-burnt  .... 

XXXVII.  The  Cow-pox 

XXXVIII.  Clue-bound— Fardel-hound 
XXXIX.  Rabies — Hydrophobia  .... 

XL.  The  Diseases  incident  to  Young  Calves 
Postscript  to  the  Diseases  of  Cattle,  by  J.  S.  Skinner,  Esq. 
Essay  on  the  advantages  of  the  Use  of  Oxen  in  the  Hus- 
bandry of  the  United  States,  by  J.  S.  Skinner,  Esq. 

SHEEP. 

Sheep  Husbandry — Diseases  of  Sheep,  by  J.  S.  Skinner, 

Esq - 

On  the  Diseases  of  Sheep 

Sect.  I.  The  Lambing  Season 

H.  The  Diseases  of  Young  Lambs 


75 

78 

84 

87 

89 

90 

94 

100 

102 

104 

106 

111 

Ilf 

114 

115 

116 

117 

119 

120 

122 

122 

128 

130 

135 

158 

163 

184 

188 


CONTENTS, 


XJ 


HI.  Red-water 

IV.  The  Blood 

V.  Sturdy,  Giddiness,  or  Water  in  the  Head 

VI.  Inflammation  of  the  Brain 

VII.  Cold — Inflammation  of  the  Lungs — Influenza 

VIII.  Blown,  or  Blast 

IX.  The  Yellows,  or  Jaundice 

X.  The  Rot  .... 

XI.  The  Foot  Rot 

XII.  The  Scab 

XIII.  Lice,  Ticks,  and  Flies  • • • • 

XIV.  Sore  Heads 

XV.  Diarrhoea,  or  Purging  .... 

XVI.  Indigestion  and  Debility  • 

XVII.  Blindness 

XVIII.  Fractures,  Wounds,  and  Bites 

XIX.  General  Cautions  .... 


. 192 
. 193 
. 194 
. 196 
197 
. 199 
. 200 
. 201 
. 208 
. 213 
. 218 
. 222 
. 223 
. 224 
. 225 
. 227 
. 229 


8WINE. 


On  the  Diseases  of  Swine  . 
Inflammation  of  the  Lungs 
Apoplexy  and  Inflammation  of  the  Brain 
Measles  ..... 

Mange 

Sore  Ears  

Pigging 

Quinsy  ...... 

Costiveness 

Inflammation  of  the  Bowels  . . 


. 231 
. 231 
. 232 
. 233 
. 234 
. 234 
. 234 
. 235 
. 236 
. 236 


HORSES. 

Chapter  I.  Varied  Form  of  the  Horse  . . . 237 

II.  Exterior  Conformation  of  the  Horse  245 

III.  Examination  of  Horses  for  Purchase  . 254 


in 


CONTENTS, 


IV.  The  Stable,  and  Grooming  . . , 278 

V.  Grooming 286 

VL  Treatment  of  the  Feet  ....  293 
VII.  Observations  and  Suggestions  relative  to  the 

Diseases  of  Horses  ....  295 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Infantado  Earn 

Skeleton  of  the  Ox,  and  Explanations 
The  Hoo^e  ...*.. 
Gearing  of  Oxen  . . 

Yokes,  &c.,  for  Oxen 

Skeleton  of  the  Horse  .... 
Skeleton  of  the  Horse,  with  References 
Skeleton  of  the  Head  of  the  Horse 
Age  of  the  Horse,  as  indicated  by  the  Teeth 
Perpendicular  Section  of  the  Foot  and  Pasterns 


The  Stable 


Frontispiece 
Page  32 
. 97 

. 150 
. 155 
. 237 
. 237 
. 245 
. 260 
. 269 
. 278 


INTRODUCTION. 


ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY 


or 

NEAT  CATTLE. 


The  term  Neat  Cattle  comprehends  all  the  varieties  of  the  Oi 
This  animal  belongs  to  that  numerous  order  termed  Ruminants , from 
their  singular  property  of  bringing  back  their  food  into  the  mouth, 
after  the  first  swallowing  of  it,  in  order  that  it  may  undergo  a second 
and  more  perfect  mastication. 

Their  distinguishing  characteristics  are  the  absence  of  front  teeth 
in  the  upper  jaw,  whose  place  is  supplied  by  a callous  pad;  the  divi- 
sion of  the  stomach  into  four  distinct  compartments  discharging 
essentially  different  functions  ; and  the  feet  being  cloven. 

The  ox,  whether  domestic  or  wild,  and  varying  materially  in  ap- 
pearance from  difference  of  breed  and  climate  and  food,  possesses 
certain  characteristics,  which  separate  him  from  all  other  ruminants : 
these  are  the  strength  and  squareness  of  the  skull — the  horns,  where 
there  are  any,  invariably  growing  from  the  crest  or  ridge  of  the  fore- 
head, projecting  first  laterally,  and  being  composed  of  a horny  case 
covering  a porous  or  cellular  bone — the  muzzle  being  broad,  and  de- 
void of  hair,  and  moist — no  mane  on  the  neck — the  dewlap  generally 
deep — only  thirteen  pairs  of  ribs — the  tail  reaching  down  almost  to 
the  heels,  and  the  udder  containing  four  teats,  forming  a kind  of 
square.  It  will  be  advantageous  to  take  a rapid  view  of  the  different 
parts  of  the  structure  of  the  ox. 

The  bones  are  the  most  solid  portions  of  the  frame : they  sustain 
the  soft  parts,  give  shape  to  the  animal,  and  protect  the  most  impor- 
tant organs,  as  the  brain,  lungs,  &c.,  from  injury. 

The  bones,  although  solid,  are  perfectly  organised,  having  blood- 
vessels, absorbents,  and  nerves : they  are  composed  of  a gelatinous 
natter,  in  which  an  earthy  substance,  phc  sphate  of  lime,  is  deposited 
and  to  wnich  }hey  are  indebted  for  their  hardness 

* (13) 


r4 


INTRODUCTION  * 


The  centre  of  almost  all  the  bones  is  more  or  less  hollow,  and  con 
tains  marrow.  This  substance  seems  to  be  necessary  to  the  health 
of  the  bone,  and  it  may  be  a reservoir  of  nutriment  in  case  any  parti- 
cular state  of  the  constitution  should  require  it. 

The  bones  are  covered  by  a membrane  called  the  periosteum , which 
gives  attachment  or  hold  to  the  muscles  by  which  the  bones  are 
moved.  The  ends  of  the  bones,  forming  the  joints,  are  tipped  with 
cartilage,  which  is  a polished  elastic  substance,  facilitating  the  mo- 
tions of  the  heads  of  the  bones  upon  each  other,  and  preventing  bad 
effects  from  concussion.  Still  more  to  avoid  friction  or  concussion, 
these  cartilages  are  lined  by  a membrane,  which  secretes  an  oii) 
fluid, — the  joint  oil  or  synovia.  The  heads  of  the  bones  are  held  to* 
gether  by  ligaments,  and  thus  joints  are  formed.  These  ligaments 
are  white,  fibrous,  and  tough ; possessed  of  sufficient  elasticity  to 
accommodate  themselves  to  the  various  motions  of  the  joints,  but  not 
enough  to  endanger  their  strength. 

The  Head. — The  head,  comprehending  the  skull  and  face  of  the 
animal,  is  composed  of  numerous  bones  closely  united  to  each  other. 
The  skull  contains  and  defends  from  injuries  that  important  organ, 
the  brain;  and  in  it  are  found  four  of  the  organs  of  sense,  wnich 
minister  so  much  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  animal,  viz.  those  of  hear- 
ing, sight,  taste,  and  smell. 

The  Teeth. — Neat  cattle  have  eight  fore  teeth  in  the  lower  jaw, 
and  none  in  the  upper  one : twelve  grinders  in  the  lower  jaw,  and  as 
many  corresponding  ones  in  the  upper  one.  Each  tooth  has  its  body 
and  root : the  body  is  all  that  part  appearing  w ithout  the  gum,  the 
root  or  fang  is  covered  by  the  gum,  and  lies  deep  in  the  bony  socket. 
The  front  teeth  are  composed  of  two  substances, — the  internal  bony 
part,  and  its  covering,  the  enamel.  This  latter  is  exceedingly  hard, 
and  gives  to  the  front  teeth  their  cutting  edge.  The  sides  of  the  back- 
teeth  are  also  covered  with  enamel,  and  columns  of  enamel  are  let 
down  into  the  body  of  these  teeth.  While  the  bone  is  gradually  worn 
away,  the  enamel  is  scarcely  touched,  and  so  there  is  formed  a rough 
and  uneven  surface  on  the  top  of  the  grinders,  admirably  adapted  foi 
creaking  down  the  food. 

The  teeth,  although  of  firmer  structure  than  the  rest  of  the  bones, 
are  also  plentifully  supplied  with  nerves  and  blood-vessels. 

How  to  ascertain  the  Age  of  Neat  Cattle  by  their  Teeth. — The  calf  is 
usually  born  with  two  fore  or  cutting  teeth,  and  at  a month  old  the 
whole  eight  are  cut.  The  age  is  then  guessed  at  by  the  wearing 
d^wn  of  these  teeth  until  the  calf  is  eight  months  old,  when  they  be- 
gin to  become  narrower  and  smaller.  At  eight  months  the  two  centre 
teeth  ire  smaller  than  the  rest;  and  from  that  time  until  eighteei 
months  rhe  others  gradually  diminish,  until  the  whole  are  very  cor 
side^ably  lessened  in  size  and  stand  apart  from  each  other. 

At  two  years  old  the  two  middle  teeth  are  pushed  out,  and  suc- 
ceeded by  two  permanent  ones ; at  three  there  are  four  permanent 
teeth  ; six  at  four  years  ; and  all  the  ei^ht  at  five,  when  the  anirri'v 


INTRODUCTION  13 

is  said  to  be  full-mouthed;  but  he  is  not  actually  so  until  six  years 
old,  when  all  the  eight  are  level. 

A good  judge  of  cattle  will  generally  determine  the  age  with  con- 
siderable accuracy  for  many  years  after  that.  From  six  to  nine  he 
will  be  guided  by  the  wearing  down  of  the  teeth,  and  after  that  by 
the  diminution  in  their  bulk,  as  in  the  milk  teeth.  At  nine  the  twc 
middle  fore  teeth  are  evidently  smaller  and  narrower  than  the  rest; 
at  ten  the  two  next  are  so ; and  so  on  until  twelve,  when,  as  in  the 
steer  of  two  years  old,  the  teeth  again  begin  to  stand  singularly  apart 
from  each  other. 

Age  by  the  Horns. — The  surface  of  the  horn  continues  nearly  smooth 
antil  the  expiration  of  the  second  year  of  the  animal’s  life,  when  a 
wrinkle  or  circle  of  thicker  horn  begins  to  be  formed  around  the  base. 
This  is  fully  completed  in  a twelvemonth,  and  another  ring  then 
begins  to  appear,  so  that  if  the  perfect  rings  or  circles  are  counted, 
and  two  added  to  them,  the  age  of  the  beast  is  supposed  to  be  ascei- 
tained.  These  rings,  however,  are  not  always  clear  and  distinct,  and 
it  is  very  easy  to  remove  one  or  two  of  them  with  a rasp,  at  least  to 
the  unpractised  eye,  when  the  animal  begins  to  be  unmarketably  old. 
In  addition  to  this  a well-known  fact  should  be  stated,  that  if  a heifer 
takes  the  bull  at  about  two  years  old,  the  first  ring  is  formed  a twelve- 
month  before  its  usual  time,  and,  consequently,  she  would  always 
appear  to  be,  reckoning  by  her  horns,  a twelvemonth  older  than  she 
really  is. 

After  all,  the  age,  as  denoted  by  the  horn,  can  only  be  calculated 
in  the  cow : these  rings  do  not  begin  to  appear  in  the  ox  or  bull  until 
the  animal  is  five  years  old,  and  then  they  are  frequently  too  con- 
fused to  be  accurately  counted. 

Young  Cattle  are,  for  the  most  part,  best  understood  by  the  follow- 
ing names: — The  Bull,  while  sucking,  is  called  a Bull-Calf;  and 
from  one  to  two  years  old  a Stirk  or  a Yearling  Bull ; every  year  after- 
wards he  is  called  a Bull  of  three,  four,  five,  and  six  years  old,  be- 
yond which  period  he  becomes  aged.  A young  castrated  male,  after 
the  first  year,  is  called  a Stot-Ca/f  or  Stir/c-Stot,  and  then  a Steer.-  at 
four  years  old  he  receives  the  name  of  a Bullock.  A female  is  at  first 
called  a Quey-Calf and  then  a Heifer  until  the  age  of  four  years  : she 
afterwards  takes  the  name  of  a Cow , which  is  retained  as  long  as  she 
lives. 

The  Neck  of  the  ox  is  comparatively  shorter  than  in  the  horse.  It 
consists  of  seven  bones,  each  of  which,  although  widened,  is  short- 
ened and  roughened,  for  the  accumulation  of  more  flesh  and  fat. 

The  Chest  is  the  large  bony  cavity  containing  and  defending  from 
injury  the  heart  and  lungs.  It  is  formed  of  the  thirteen  rack  bones 
of  the  back,  thirteen  ribs  on  each  side,  and  the  breast-bone  below 
and  before.  The  ribs  are  so  articulated  with  the  spine  as  to  allow 
of  some  little  motion  in  respiration.  It  is  of  much  importance  that 
the  chest  should  be  wide  and  full,  and  at  the  same  time  deep  in  the 
girth,  otherwise  there  will  not  be  sufficient  space  without  for  the 
2 


16 


INTRODUCTION. 


attachment  of  flesh,  or  room  within  for  the  heart  and  lungs  to  play 
It  is  very  desirable  that  the  chest  shall  not  be  drawn  up  immediately 
behind  the  elbow.  The  accumulation  of  fleshy  and  fatty  substance 
under  the  chest,  and  projecting  before  it,  and  which  is  called  the 
brisket , is  also  an  important  point — is  an  earnest  of  a propensity  to 
accumulate  flesh  and  fat  everywhere. 

Breadth  across  the  loins  is  a valuable  conformation,  and  more  par- 
ticularly length  in  the  quarters,  leaving  space  for  plenty  of  muscle 
and  fat  being  put  on  these  places,  where  the  meat  is  of  the  finest 
grain  and  fetches  the  highest  price. 

The  Fore  Legs . — The  Shoulder  Blade  is  a broad,  flat,  and  triangu- 
lar-shaped bone,  situated  on  the  outside  of  the  fore  ribs.  It  is  com- 
paratively larger  and  more  upright  in  the  ox  than  in  the  horse.  It  is, 
however,  a fault  when  the  shoulders  are  too  heavy ; for  there  is  then 
generally  a deficiency  about  the  choice  parts. 

The  Shoulder  Bone  is  a short  and  very  strong  bone  extending  from 
the  cup  of  thd  shoulder  blade  to  the  fore  arm. 

The  Leg  Bone , or  Fore  Arm , is  situated  between  the  shoulder  bone 
and  knee,  and  it  is  the  longest  bone  of  the  fore  extremities.  . At  the 
upper  and  back  part  of  it  is  the  process  called  the  elbow.  The  fore 
arm  should  be  large  and  muscular,  and  regularly  tapering  towards 
the  knee. 

The  Knee  consists  of  two  rows  of  small  bones,  forming  a compound 
joint  of  considerable  strength,  and  allowing  likewise  of  extensive 
motion. 

The  Fore  Leg , or  Shank , reaches  from  the  knee  to  the  upper  pastern 
bones.  It  is  of  much  consequence  that  it  should  be  clean,  fine,  short, 
and  small. 

The  leg  is  divided  at  the  bottom  of  the  shank-bone,  and  there  are 
two  sets  of  pasterns,  and  two  hoofs,  to  each  leg.  The  pasterns  should 
be  small,  and  not  too  long:  the  feet,  especially  in  working  oxen, 
should  point  straight  forward,  and  should  be  sound  ; and  they  should 
not  be  too  close  to  each  other,  for  this  would  indicate  a narrow  chest, 
that  would  be  unfavourable  to  speedy  fattening. 

The  Hind  Legs . — The  Thigh  Bone  is  a large  and  rather  short  bone, 
extending  from  the  cup-like  cavity  of  the  hip-bone  to  the  stifle.  It  is 
inclined  obliquely  forwards,  and  its  lower  end  articulates  with  the 
leg  bone  at  the  stifle.  This  part  constitutes  the  quarters,  which  should 
be  deep  and  large.  The  longer  the  thigh  bone  is,  compared  with-  those 
below  it,  the  better;  indeed,  it  is  of  advantage  that  the  flesh  should 
extend  down  even  to  the  hocks. 

The  Leg  Bone  reaches  from  the  stifle  to  the  hock,  inclining  ob- 
liquely backwards. 

The  Hock  is  a compound  joint,  being,  like  the  knee  of  the  lure  ex- 
tremities, composed  of  two  rows  of  small  bones.  The  hocks  naturally 
approach  each  other  much  nearer  in  the  ox  than  in  the  florae,  and 
the  hind  legs  diverge  from  each  other  below  the  hock,  and  stand 
considerably  apart.  In  some  cattle  this  is  carried  to  such  an  extern 


INTRODUCTION.  I-, 

as  to  become  a great  deformity — it  indicates  weakness  and  unthiifti- 
ness. 

It  will  be  unnecessary  to  describe  the  remaining  bones  of  the  hind 
leg  and  foot,  as  they  closely  resemble  those  of  the  for®  leg,  and  have 
also  the  same  names. 

The  Skin. — The  hide  or  skin  consists  of  three  layers  ; the  first  and 
outermost  called  the  scarf  skin , the  central  mucous  substance , and  the 
innermost  or  true  skin . 

The  Scarf  Skin  is  the  outermost  layer.  It  is  thicker  on  some  parts 
than  on  others,  as  on  the  back  and  legs,  and,  being  insensible,  it  de- 
fends the  true  skin  from  much  injury.  The  scarf  skin  is  separated 
from  the  parts  beneath  in  the  act  of  blistering. 

The  Mucous  Substance  is  thin,  delicate,  and  soft,  resembling  in 
texture  fine  net-work.  It  is  this  that  gives  colour  to  the  skin  in  the 
human  subject;  but  it  is  precisely  of  the  same  hue  in  all  oxen,  what- 
ever be  the  colour  of  the  hair.  It  adheres  more  firmly  to  the  scarf 
skin  than  to  the  true  skin,  and  separates  with  it,  when  the  hide  is 
prepared  by  the  tanners. 

The  True  Skin  is  a thick,  dense,  and  elastic  substance,  and  is  that 
from  which  leather  is  made. 

The  Hair. — The  skin  is  covered  with  hair,  which  is  not  only  an 
ornament  to  the  beast,  but  tends  to  keep  the  body  warm.  The  hairs 
arise  from  bulbous  extremities  in  the  skin,  and  receive  their  nourish- 
ment from  these  roots.  The  feeling  of  the  skin,  and  the  appearance 
of  the  hair,  should  be  carefully  observed.  A softness  and  suppleness 
of  the  skin,  and  a kind  of  glossiness  in  the  coat,  not  only  indicate 
present  health,  but  a disposition  to  thrive ; while  a hard  dry  skin, 
clinging  to  the  ribs,  and  a coat  staring  in  every  direction,  show  that 
there  is  something  wrong  in  the  constitution,  and  that  it  will  be  labour 
in  vain  to  attempt  to  fatten  such  a beast.  The  eyelashes  and  the  hair 
within  the  ears  seem  principally  designed  to  protect  those  parts  from 
insects,  moisture,  or  cold.  The  hairs  at  the  end  of  the  tail  are  longer 
than  those  of  the  rest  of  the  body,  in  order  the  better  to  drive  insects 
away  from  the  skin. 

Immediately  under  the  skin  is  the  fleshy  panicle , or  rhine.  It  is  a 
thin  muscle,  extending  over  the  whole  of  the  trunk,  and  partly  dowr 
the  extremities.  It  is  well  supplied  with  nerves,  and  capable  of  verj 
extensive  motion ; and  its  chief  use  is  to  corrugate  the  skin  for  the 
purpose  of  shaking  off  flies,  or  anything  that  may  annoy  the  animal. 

The  Fat. — On  removing  the  hide  and  fleshy  panicle,  the  fat  comes 
into  view,  which  is  sometimes  in  considerable  quantity,  particularly 
on  the  rump,  loins,  and  ribs.  There  are  also  layers  of  it,  in  beasts 
m good  condition,  not  only  between  the  muscles,  but  the  fibres  of  the 
name  muscle,  giving  a peculiar  marbled  appearance  to  the  flesh. 

Within  the  belly  the  kidneys  are  chiefly  surrounded  with  it;  the 
amentum,  or  caul,  contains  a large  quantity  of  it;  and  there  is,  also, 
a great  deal  about  the  intestines.  It  guards  many  parts  that  wouIg 
be  injured  by  pressure'  it  fills  up  a variety  of  interstices,  and  foirns 
2** 


19 


INTRODUCTION. 


a reservoir  of  nutritive  matter  for  the  support  of  the  animal  jndei  anj 
accidental  want  of  nourishment. 

Connected  with  the  fat  is  the  cellular  membrane , formed  likewise 
of  membranous  cells,  but  which  communicate  with  each  other  through 
the  whole  of  the  body.  There  is  sufficient  but  disgusting  proof  of 
this  in  the  blowing  up  of  the  calf  just  killed.  The  crackling  heard 
when  the  skin  of  cattle  labouring  under  inflammatory  fever  is  pressed 
upon,  is  another  proof,  for  the  gas  which  was  produced  by  the  com- 
mencement of  putrefaction  is  forced  into  the  neighbouring  cells. 

The  cellular  membrane  is  the  connecting  medium  between  almost 
all  the  component  parts  of  the  frame. 

The  Muscles. — The  muscles  are  accumulations  of  fibres  or  cords, 
running  parallel  to  each  other,  and  bound  together  by  cellular  mem 
brane,  and  by  the  tightening  or  contraction  of  which  the  various  parts 
of  the  body  are  moved.  They  arise  from  some  fixed  point,  and  are 
inserted  either  by  a diminution  of  their  substance,  or  in  the  form  of  a 
tendon,  into  a bone  or  part  that  is  movable.  Nervous  fibrils  are  sent 
to  all  these  muscles  from  the  spinal  cord,  by  the  influence  of  which 
they  contract  or  shorten,  and  the  bone  or  movable  part  into  which  the 
tendon  is  inserted  is  acted  upon ; and  if  both  the  parts  from  which 
they  arise,  and  into  which  they  are  inserted,  are  movable,  both  change 
their  place. 

There  are  other  muscles,  as  those  of  the  heart  and  the  intestines, 
which  are  moved  by  nervous  influence  not  arising  from  the  spinal 
cord  and  the  brain,  and  not  under  the  influence  of  the  will.  It  is 
proper  that  the  powers  of  circulation  and  digestion  should  be  perfectly 
independent  of  the  will.  The  sources  whence  these  powers  are  de- 
rived will  be  presently  spoken  of. 

The  Brain. — The  brain  is  a pulpy  substance  contained  in  the  cavity 
of  the  skull.  By  means  of  the  spinal  cord  (which  is  a continuation 
of  its  substance),  and  the  nerves  which  proceed  from  the  spinal  cord, 
it  holds  correspondence  with  the  whole  frame,  imparting  sensibility 
everywhere,  and  giving  motion  to  every  part  that  is  capable  of  volun 
tary  action. 

The  five  senses,  viz.,  vision , hearings  feeling , tasting , and  smelling, 
so  necessary  to  the  animal’s  existence  and  well-being,  are  all  situated 
in  the  head,  and  not  far  distant  from  the  brain.  The  organs  of  these 
senses  are  the  eyes,  ears,  lips,  tongue,  and  the  internal  parts  of  the 
nose.  These  have  nerves  sent  to  them  from  the  brain,  by  which  the 
impressions  made  upon  them  by  external  objects  are  immediately 
communicated  to  that  important  organ,  and  the  animal  is  rendered 
conscious  of  surrounding  objects,  and  their  forms  and  qualities. 

Nine  pairs  of  nerves  arise  from  the  base  of  the  brain,  and  proceed, 
through  holes  in  the  skull,  to  the  face  and  head  principally ; but  some 
of  them  wander  farther,  for  the  purposes  of  feeling  and  motion.  The 
first  pair  are  the  nerves  of  smelling;  they  pursue  a short  course  to 
the  nose.  The  second  pair  go  to  tne  eyes,  and  are  the  nerves  of  vision  . 
the  third  and  fourth  pairs  are  distributed  to  the  muscles  that  move 


INTRODUCTION  • 


19 


the  globe  of  the  eye.  The  fijth  pair  are  very  extensive  nerves : they 
divide  into  three  separate  branches,  which  ramify  into  numerous  fila- 
ments or  twigs,  and  are  distributed  over  the  whole  of  the  face,  and  in 
some  degree  give  the  various  muscles  the  power  of  motion,  but  more 
particularly  confer  on  the  parts  to  which  they  go  the  faculty  of  feel- 
ing. The  sixth  pair  go  to  the  muscles  of  the  eye.  One  division  of 
the  seventh  pair  is  distributed  over  the  internal  parts  of  the  ear,  and 
on  it  depends  the  sense  of  hearing : the  other  portion  is  that  from 
which  the  muscles  of  the  face  mainly  derive  their  power  of  motion. 
The  eighth  pair  are  principally  distributed  over  the  organs  contained 
in  the  chest  and  belly:  they  give  the  power  of  motion,  but  motion 
altogether  independent  of  the  will ; and  they  have  nothing  to  do  with 
sensation.  The  ninth  pair  go  to  the  tongue,  and  give  it  the  faculty 
of  taste. 

These  nine  pairs  of  nerves  proceeding  in  regular  succession  from 
the  brain,  may  be  readily  seen  by  gradually  raising  that  organ  from 
the  fore  part  of  the  cavity  of  the  skull. 

The  Spinal  Marrow, — When  the  brain  passes  out  through  the  large 
opening  at  the  back  part  of  the  skull  into  the  canal  of  the  spine,  it  is 
called  the  spinal  cord  or  marrow.  It  extends  through  the  whole  length 
of  the  spine,  and  gives  origin  to  numerous  nerves,  which  pass  through 
notches  formed  between  the  junction  of  each  of  the  bones,  and  are 
distributed  over  the  whole  of  the  exterior  and  to  some  of  the  internal 
organs  of  the  body.  They  convey  to  the  whole  machine  the  powei 
of  feeling  and  of  moving. 

The  Organs  of  Circulation.  — Every  part  of  the  body  is  supplied 
with  blood  by  means  of  the  heart  and  the  vessels  arising  from  it;  and 
the  regular  course  in  which  it  flows  from  the  heart  and  back  to  it 
again  is  denominated  the  circulation  of  the  blood. 

The  Heart  is  situated  about  the  middle  of  the  chest,  rather  inclining 
to  the  left  side,  and  rests  upon  the  breast-bone. 

It  may  be  considered  as  double ; and  it  consists  of  two  cavities  on 
either  side.  The  upper  one,  on  the  right  side,  the  auricle,  so  called 
from  its  supposed  resemblance  to  a dog’s  ear,  receives  the  blood 
which  has  circulated  through  the  frame,  and  pours  it  into  the  lower 
one,  the  ventricle.  As  soon  as  that  is  filled,  it  contracts  upon  its 
contents ; and,  as  it  closes,  a membrane  or  valve  rises,  which  pre- 
vents the  return  of  the  blood  into  the  auricle,  and  forces  it  into  vessels 
that  carry  it  into  the  lungs,  where  it  undergoes  that  purification  which 
is  necessary  to  sustain  the  life  of  the  animal.  Having  been  thus 
purified,  it  is  returned  to  the  heart,  and  enters  the  left  auricle ; thence 
it  is  poured  into  the  left  ventricle,  and,  that  contracting,  and  a similar 
membrane  or  valve  rising,  to  prevent  its  flowing  back  into  the  auricle, 
it  is  sent  into  the  main  trunk  of  the  arteries,  and  thus  distributed 
over  the  whole  of  the  frame. 

The  blood  flows  through  the  arteries  by  tne  force  impressed  upon 
it  by  the  heart.  This  is  felt  in  the  pulsations  of  the  arteries,  which 
correspond  with  the  contractions  of  the  heart,  and  indicate  not  only 


20 


INTRODUCTION  . 


the  number  but  the  nature  of  these  contractions,  whether  propelling 
a greater  or  smaller  quantity  of  blood.  By  the  number  and  the  force 
of  the  pulsations  the  degree  of  fever  is  indicated  with  considerable 
certainty.  The  heat  of  the  mouth,  and  of  the  base  of  the  horns,  will 
oe  important  guides;  but  a much  safer  one,  and  more  clearly  ascer- 
taining the  extent  and  the  nature  of  the  fever,  is  the  action  of  the 
heart  faithfully  represented  by  the  pulse.  Wherever  the  finger  can 
be  placed  on  an  artery  that  is  not  too  thickly  covered  by  cellular 
membrane  or  fat,  and  that  has  some  firm  substance  beneath,  the 
pulse  may  be  felt;  but  most  conveniently  so  where,  at  the  back  part 
of  the  lower  jaw,  the  artery  comes  from  the  channel  between  the 
jaws,  and  passes  over  the  edge  of  the  jaw-bone,  to  ramify  on  the 
(ace. 

The  natural  pulse  of  the  full-grown  ox  varies  from  50  to  55  beats 
in  a minute,  but  is  quicker  in  milch  cows  than  in  oxen,  and  particu- 
arly  towards  the  period  of  parturition.  A pulse  much  quicker  than 
that  here  stated  denotes  fever  or  inflammation;  whilst  one  much 
slower  indicates  sluggishness  of  the  circulation,  or  debility. 

There  are  other  circumstances,  however,  to  be  taken  into  the  ac- 
count,— as  the  force  or  the  weakness  of  the  heart’s  action,  — strong 
and  bounding  at  the  beginning  of  inflammatory  fever,  and  weak  and 
scarcely  to  be  felt  when  that  fever  is  assuming  a putrid  form.  The 
regularity  or  irregularity  of  the  pulse  is  also  an  important  considera- 
tion as  characterising  the  kind  of  irritability  under  which  the  heart 
labours.  They  who  have  to  do  with  cattle  will  find  it  of  immense 
advantage  to  study  the  pulse,  and  especially  in  reference  to  the  pro- 
priety of  bleeding;  for  a large  bleeding  will,  in  some  cases,  cut  the 
disease  short  at  once,  while  at  other  times  it  would  destroy  the  re- 
maining strength  of  the  animal,  and  ensure  and  hasten  its  death. 

The  blood  flows  through  the  arteries  principally  by  the  impulsive 
power  of  the  heart.  The  arteries,  however,  possess  a controlling  in- 
fluence independent  of  the  heart,  and  can,  under  circumstances  of 
necessity  or  disease,  supply  a deficiency  of  action  in  the  heart,  oi 
neutralize  its  too  violent  efforts. 

At  the  termination  of  the  arteries,  and  branching  from  them  at  every 
point  of  their  course,  are  other  vessels  as  small  as  a hair,  or  a thou- 
sand times  smaller,  through  which  the  blood  must  find  its  way. 
These  are  the  capillaries , and  in  them,  or  in  the  glands  into  which 
they  enter,  or  which  they  compose,  all  the  important  offices  of  secre- 
tion and  nutrition  are  performed.  These  offices  being  discharged, 
and  the  various  portions  of  the  frame  being  built  up,  the  blood  has 
materially  changed.  From  being  of  a scarlet  colour  it  has  become 
black — from  being  capable  of  supporting  life  it  is  poisonous  — from 
arterial  it  is  changed  to  venous-^and,  these  capillary  vessels  running 
into  each  other  and  gradually  enlarging,  we  begin  to  recognise  the 
veins.  The  veins  commence  where  the  arteries  terminate,  and  by 
them  the  black  blood  is  collected,  and  carried  back  to  the  heart,  tc  be 
thence  pumped  into  the  lungs,  for  the  purpose  of  re-purification. 


INTRODUCTION  . 


2 1 

The  blood  traverses  the  veins  also  by  the  power  of  the  heart,  but 
exerted  in  a different  way.  When  the  ventricle  of  the  heart,  afteT 
having  contracted  upon  its  contents,  opens  again,  it  forms  a vacuum 
into  which  the  neighbouring  blood  flows  by  a mechanical  principle, 
viz.  the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere.  The  fire-engine  is  supplied  with 
water  from  the  reservoir  by  the  same  principle,  although  the  pipe 
through  which  it  flows  may  be  a quarter  of  a mile  in  length.  Besides 
this,  where  there  are  muscles  by  the  action  of  which  the  vein  may 
be  compressed,  provision  is  made  that  the  flow  of  blood  shall  be 
assisted  and  not  retarded ; for  there  are  numerous  membranous  valves, 
which  open  in  the  natural  direction  of  the  current,  and  would  close 
if  the  current  were  to  take  a retrograde  course.  All  the  veins  con- 
nected with  the  muscles  are  abundantly  supplied  with  such  valves, 
so  that,  by  every  contraction  of  the  muscle,  or  motion  of  the  limb, 
the  blood  is  forced  on  more  rapidly  in  its  natural  course,  and  the 
possibility  of  retrograding  is  prevented.  This  accounts  for  the  in- 
creased flow  of  blood  on  exercise,  and' the  greater  rapidity  with  which 
the  blood  escapes  in  venesection,  when  the  jaw  of  the  ox  is  moved 
by  introducing  the  finger  into  the  mouth. 

The  Organs  of  Respiration. — Respiration  is  so  absolutely  essential 
to  the  life  of  quadrupeds,  that,  if  it  is  suspended  for  a few  minutes, 
the  animal  dies  suffocated.  The  act  of  respiration  is  the  alternate 
reception  and  expulsion  of  air  into  and  from  the  lungs,  and,  during 
which,  the  blood  traverses  a set  of  vessels  in  the  lungs,  where  it  is 
exposed  to  the  action  of  this  air,  and  changed  by  it,  and  rendered 
capable  of  supporting  animal  life.  The  air  which  is  to  effect  a salu- 
tary change  in  the  blood  is  received  partly  through  the  mouth,  but 
mostly  through  the  nostril  in  cattle,  and  enters 

The  Windpipe , a long  tube  situated  in  the  fore  part  of  the  neck, 
and  leading  from  the  back  of  the  mouth  to  the  lungs.  On  the  top  of 
:t  is  a triangular  cartilaginous  substance,  which  permits  the  passage 
of  the  air  either  way,  but  closes  the  mouth  of  the  windpipe  when  the 
animal  swallows  its  food,  and  so  prevents  any  substance  from  getting 
into  this  tube,  and  annoying,  or  perhaps  destroying,  the  beast. 

The  windpipe  consists  of  numerous  circular  rings  formed  of  dense 
2artilage,  and  these  are  connected  together  by  a strong  ligamentous 
substance  which  is  very  elastic : this  peculiar  structure  not  only 
renders  the  windpipe  very  flexible,  but  keeps  it  constantly  open. 
The  whole  passage  is  lubricated  with  a viscid  fluid,  secreted  from 
the  membrane  lining  its  internal  surface. 

Immediately  before  it  arrives  at  the  lungs,  the  windpipe  divides 
into  two  distinct  tubes,  and  these,  as  soon  as  they  enter  into  the 
ungs,  subdivide  until  they  are  too  minute  to  be  traced  by  the  naked 
eye  and  at  length  terminate  in  an  innumerable  series  of  minute  cells. 
Upon  the  membrane  lining  these  cells  the  vessels  which  have  con- 
veyed the  venous  blood  to  the  lungs  ramify,  and  there  is  nothing 
interposed  between  the  air  and  the  blood  but  the  membrane  forming 
he  cells,  and  the  thin  covering  of  the  blood-vessels. 


22 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  air  is  introduced  into  these  cells  in  the  following  manner: — 
The  chest  and  the  belly  are  divided  from  each  other  by  a very  strong 
muscular  expansion  called  the  diaphragm,  or  midriff,  or  skirt.  In  its 
natural  state  it  is  of  an  arched  form,  and  bulges  considerably  into  the 
chest.  When  it  is  excited  to  action,  it  contracts ; it  becomes  straighter ; 
the  bulging  into  the  chest  is  diminished,  and  the  cavity  of  the  chest 
proportionally  increased  ; and  if,  at  the  same  time,  the  muscles  which 
are  between  each  rib,  and  which  have  the  power  to  elevate  or  depress 
the  ribs,  likewise  act  and  raise  them,  the  cavity  becomes  yet  more 
enlarged  ; and  the  consequence  of  this  necessarily  is,  that  there  would, 
if  possible,  be  a vacuum  between  the  lungs  and  the  walls  of  the  chest. 
To  prevent  this,  or,  more  properly  speaking,  forced  by  the  inequality 
of  atmospheric  pressure  thus  produced,  air  rushes  into  the  nose,  passes 
down  the  windpipe,  inflates  and  fills  up  the  lungs,  and  is  thus  brought 
into  contact  with  the  blood.  After  a short  time  the  diaphragm  and 
the  muscles  of  the  ribs  cease  to  act,  and  the  former  begins  to  bulge 
again  into  the  chest,  and  the  latter  to  fall,  and  the  cavity  of  the  chest 
is  contracted,  and  the  lungs  are  squeezed  into  their  former  bulk,  and 
the  air  which  had  entered  is  pressed  out  again. 

A most  important  process,  however,  has  been  performed  during 
this  entrance  and  expulsion  of  the  air.  Both  the  air  and  the  blood 
have  been  changed  : the  air  has  become  poisonous,  and  the  blood  has 
become  capable  of  supporting  life.  A great  quantity  cf  what  used  to 
be  termed  pure  air,  oxygen,  is  taken  from  that  which  was  inhaled ; a 
portion  of  it  unites  with  the  poison  of  the  blood  — the  carbon  — and 
forms  carbonic  acid  gas  — fixed  air  — and  which  is  expelled  when 
the  air  is  returned  in  the  act  of  expiration ; while  another  portion  of 
it  enters  into  the  composition  of  the  blood,  and  either  remains  there 
unchanged,  or  becomes  combined  with  some  of  the  multifarious  sub- 
stances that  make  up  the  blood.  The  air  has  taken  carbon  from  the 
blood,  and  communicated  oxygen  to  it. 

This  change,  both  of  the  air  and  the  blood,  is  not  so  marked  in  the 
ox  as  in  most  other  annuals.  He  does  not  seem  to  have  so  much 
poison  to  get  rid  of,  nor  needs  he  to  steal  so  much  vital  air  from  the 
atmosphere,  and  therefore  the  c.ow-house,  however  close,  is  seldom 
offensive.  The  breath  of  the  cow  is  even  pleasant,  and  consumptive 
persons  have  fancied  that  they  have  derived  benefit  from  inhaling  it. 

The  inside  of  the  chest,  and  of  the  diaphragm,  and  also  the  whole 
external  surface  of  the  lungs,  are  covered  by  a smooth  membrane 
called  the  pleura , which  secretes  a serous  fluid,  which  in  its  natural 
quantity  preserves  the  surfaces  moist,  and  prevents  friction,  but  in 
undue  and  unhealthy  quantity  constitutes  dropsy  of  the  chest. 

The  Organs  of  Digestion.  — The  food  received  by  all  animals 
affords,  by  the  process  of  digestion,  a nutritious  fluid  of  a milky  co- 
our,  called  chyle;  which  is  absorbed  into  the  system,  and  soon 
enters  the  circulating  mass  of  blood,  aird  becomes  itself  converted 
nto  blood  : thereby  repairing  the  waste  that  this  fluid  suffers  in 
nourishing  the  body,  and  also  supplying  the  materials  for  all  the 


INTRODUCTION  . 


21] 


strangely  various  secretions.  The  organs  of  digestion  in  neat  cattle 
are  more  complicated  than  in  the  horse,  or  in  man  ; for  the  latter  have 
only  one  stomach,  but  these  have  four  stomachs.  This,  probably, 
renders  them  more  liable,  particularly  in  their  present  domesticated 
state,  to  diseases  of  the  digestive  organs. 

The  gullet  is  a thick  fleshy  canal  that  receives  the  food  from  the 
mouth,  in  its  passage  into  the  first  stomach,  and  having  afterwards 
returned  it  to  the  mouth  for  the  purpose  of  re-mastication,  once  more 
receives  it,  and  conveys  it  into  a canal  at  its  base. 

The  grass  is  cropped,  and  having  been  slightly  chewed,  is  covered 
by  the  mucus  of  the  mouth,  and  formed  by  the  tongue  into  a kind  of 
pellet  that  can  be  swallowed.  It  then  passes  down  the  gullet,  and 
arrives  at  this  canal.  If  this  canal  were  pursued  it  would  lead  on  to 
the  manyplies,  or  third  stomach;  but  its  floor  is  curiously  constructed. 
It  is  formed  of  two  rounded  muscular  bands,  which  may  be  held  to- 
gether or  divided  — which  may  form  a tube  through  which  a liquid 
will  scarcely  penetrate,  and  so  carry  on  the  food  to  the  third  stomach, 
or  which  may  divide  and  suffer  it  to  fall  through  into  the  rumen  or 
paunch,  of  the  roof  of  which,  and  also  of  the  reticulum , or  second 
stomach,  these  bands  form  a part. 

The  pellet  of  food  passes  down,  and  partly  by  its  own  weight,  and 
assisted  also  by  the  contraction  of  the  muscles  of  the  gullet,  and  its 
course  also  in  some  measure  depending  on  the  pleasure  of  the  animal, 
it  breaks  through  the  floor  and  enters  into  the  paunch ; and  there  it 
remains,  and  pellet  after  pellet  descends  until  the  paunch  is  nearly  or 
quite  filled.  The  animal  then  lies  comfortably  down.  The  food  has 
all  this  time  been  macerating  in  the  paunch,  the  inner  membrane  of 
which  is  lined  with  numerous  little  prominences  or  capillary  glands, 
that  secrete  an  alkaline  fluid,  which  prevents  or  limits  the  process  of 
fermentation,  when  fresh  succulent  vegetables  are  exposed  to  the 
united  influence  of  warmth  and  moistura.  While  this  has  been  going 
forward,  the  muscles  which  compose  one  of  the  coats  of  the  paunch 
have  been  constantly  acting,  and  the  food  has  travelled  through  the 
various  compartments  of  the  stomach,  and  every  portion  of  it  has 
been  exposed  to  the  influence  of  this  fluid ; and  finally,  that  which 
was  swallowed  first,  or  which  had  been  in  the  stomach  many  an  hour 
before,  and  which  has  been  considerably  softened,  and  duly  prepared, 
is  ready  to  present  itself  first  to  be  returned. 

By  a slightly  convulsive  act,  a portion  sufficient  to  form  a pelle* 
of  the  proper  size  to  be  returned  passes  on  from  the  paunch  into  the 
second  stomach,  which  is  connected  with  the  first  under  the  floor  of 
the  canal.  This  stomach  is  possessed  of  a strongly  muscular  coat, 
arid  it  contracts  immediately  on  this  mass,  presses  out  the  fluid  which 
it  contains,  and  sends  it  along  the  canal  through  the  third  into  the 
fourth  stomach ; at  the  same  time  it  forms  the  more  solid  part  into 
a proper  shape  to  be  returned,  and  covers  it  with  a mucous  fluid, 
provided  by  numerous  little  glands  in  the  honeycomb-cells  and 
which  renders  its  return  through  the  gullet  more  easy. 


INTRODUCTION . 


2-i 

13  y another  slight  convulsive  effort  of  the  animal  the  pellet  is  mad* 
to  break  through  the  floor  of  the  canal,  and  is  carried  to  the  base  ol 
the  gullet,  where  it  is  embraced  by  the  spiral  muscles  of  that  tube, 
and  returned  to  the  mouth ; or  it  may  be  more  correctly  said  that  the 
same  effort  which  sends  the  prepared  pellet  from  the  second  stomach 
into  the  gullet,  to  be  re-chewed,  forces  a fresh  portion  from  the  paunch 
into  the  second  stomach.  The  animal  now  ruminates  at  his  leisure, 
and  the  pellet  having  been  perfectly  broken  down  by  the  grinding 
action  of  the  teeth,  and  softened  by  an  additional  secretion  from  the 
glands  of  the  mouth,  is  almost  a semi-fluid  mass ; and,  when  it  is 
again  swallowed,  it  either  has  not  sufficient  solidity  to  force  itse.f 
through  the  floor  of  the  canal,  or  the  beast  does  not  choose  that  it 
shall,  and  it  passes  on,  over  the  roof  of  the  paunch  and  the  honey 
comb,  and  enters  into  the  third  stomach  or  manyplies. 

A very  important  hint  here  suggests  itself  with  regard  to  medicines, 
and  which  has  not  been  sufficiently  attended  to  by  the  cow-leech  or 
the  veterinary  surgeon.  We  may,  to  a very  great  extent,  send  medi- 
cine into  what  stomach  we  please.  We  may  give  it  in  a ball,  and  it 
will  fall  into  the  paunch,  and  thence  go  the  round  of  all  the  stomachs  ; 
or  it  may  be  exhibited  in  a fluid  form,  and  gently  poured  down,  and 
the  greater  part  of  it  passed  at  once  into  the  third  and  fourth  stomachs. 
That  which  is  meant  to  have  a speedy  action  on  the  constitution  oi 
the  disease  should  be  given  in  a fluid  form.  That  also  which  is  par- 
ticularly disagreeable  should  be  thus  given,  otherwise  it  will  enter 
the  paunch,  and  be  returned  again  in  the  process  of  rumination,  and 
disgust  the  animal,  and,  perhaps,  cause  rumination  to  cease  at  once. 
This  wou'd  always  be  a dangerous  thing,  for  the  food  retained  in  the 
paunch  would  soon  begin  to  ferment,  and  become  a new  source  of 
irritatior  and  disease.* 

The  third  stomach,  called  the  manyplus  or  manyplies,  or  many- 
leaves,  is,  \ ♦.  its  base,  a continuation  of  the  canal  already  referred  to, 
and  through  v>  hich  fluid  food  would  pass  at  once  into  the  fourth  sto- 
mach ; but  there  are  suspended  from  its  roof  numerous  curious  leaves, 
floating  loose  in  the  canal,  furnished  at  the  edges  with  numerous  little 
hooks,  which  intercept  and  take  up  everything  that  may  have  escaped 
the  action  of  the  teeth,  and  continues  to  retain  a solid  form.  The 
general  surface  of  these  leaves  is  studded  with  little  hard  prominences 
on  either  side,  and,  these  rubbing  against  each  other,  the  hardest  food 
is  gradually  reduced  to  a fit  state  for  digestion.  This  being  accomplish- 
ed, the  food  arrives  at  last  at  the  fourth  or  true  digestive  stomach — a 
long  pouch  or  bag,  more  abundantly  supplied  than  any  of  the  others 


* It  has,  however,  been  ascertained  by  experiment,  that  if  a quantity  of  liquid 
such  as  linseed  tea,  be  given  to  a beast  just  before  it  is  slaughtered,  the  greater  por 
tion  will  be  found  in  the  rumen.  The  fluids,  however,  do  not  require  to  be  ruminated 
and  therefore  they  are  squeezed  out  by  the  action  of  the  second  stomach,  and  thus 
pass  onwards  to  the  third  and  fourth  stomachs,  whilst  the  solid  food  is  returned  to 
me  mouth  and  re-masticated.  Eyen  after  this  all  the  ruminated  food  does  not  ne- 
cessarily pass  into  the  third  stomach,  but  the  harder  portion  again  enters  the  rumen 
ind  ns  again  *umija<a/.ed. 


NIRO  I)  U C T 1 O IN 


25 


with  blood-vessels,  and  secreting  the  gastiic  juice — lilt  principal 
agent  in  digestion,  and  by  means  of  which  the  food  is  converted  into 
a uniform  half  fluid  mass,  called  chyme. 

From  tne  presence  of  this  gastric  juice,  the  fourth  stomach  has  the 
property  of  curdling  milk.  The  dried  sto  iach  or  maw  of  calves  i9 
Called  rennet.  It  will  be  seen,  as  we  go  m,  that  this  property  of 
curdling  milk  is,  in  some  states  of  the  stoi  ach  or  the  milk,  an  occa- 
sional source  of  disease. 

The  food,  being  thus  prepared,  passes  through  the  lower  orifice  of 
the  stomach  into  the  intestines ; and  these  are  of  enormous  length,  in 
order  that  every  particle  of  nutriment  m?y  be  extracted.  They  are 
twenty-two  times  the  length  of  the  body  of  the  ox. 

The  food  has  not  passed  far  into  the  first  intestine  ere  it  undergoes 
a new  change.  The  secretions  from  the  liver  and  the  pancreas — the 
bile  and  the  pancreatic  juice — mingle  with  the  food  ; and  at  the  same 
time,  and  possibly  influenced  by  these,  the  mass  which  has  passed 
the  stomach  begins  to  separate  into  two  parts,  the  one  a white  matter, 
constituting  the  nutritive  portion,  and  called  the  chyle  — the  other, 
that  which  is  afterwards  to  be  expelled  from  the  sysvem.  The  sepa- 
ration is  at  first  bat  partial : more  and  more  nutritive  matter  is  ex- 
tracted as  the  mass  rolls  on,  and,  at  length,  nothing  that  is  useful 
remains. 

This  nutritive  matter,  the  chyle,  is  not  sr.Aered  to  pass  far  along 
the  intestinal  canal,  but  is  taken  up  or  abso’Aed  by  numerous  minute 
vessels  that  open  on  the  inside  of  the  bowels,  and  is  conveyed  by 
them  into  the  circulation,  where  it  is  mixoJ  with  the  blood,  and  con- 
verted into  blood,  and  prepared  for  building  up  the  various  portions 
of  the  frame.  All  along  the  small  intestines, — the  duodenum , jejunum , 
and  ileum , — this  separation  continues  to  be  made,  and  these  vessels 
at  length  convey  away  all  the  useful  portion  of  the  food. 

The  residue,  having  arrived  at  the  larger  intestines,  which  now 
succeed,  and  containing  no  longer  anything  that  can  be  thus  changed 
into  chyle,  these  vessels,  the  ladeals , are  no  longer  found  in  cattle; 
but  nevertheless  there  are  other  vessels,  absorbents , which  take  up  the 
fluid  parts  of  the  faeces,  and  extract  from  them  what  may  ultimately 
contribute  to  nutriment.  It  is  on  this  account  that,  when  an  animal 
is  unable  to  eat,  we  can  support  him  for  a considerable  period  by 
means  of  nutritive  fluids  injected  into  the  bowels,  and  which  can 
only  reach  to  the  large  intestines. 

In  most  herbrmrous  animals  there  is  a provision  made  by  a curious 
cell-like  structu  e of  the  colon  and  caecum,  (the  most  considerable  of 
the  large  intestines),  for  the  retention  of  the  residue  of  the  food  in 
them;  but,  in  the  ox  and  other  ruminants,  the  food  is  so  thoroughly 
prepared  by  the  complicated  mechanism  of  the  four  stomachs,  and 
the  course  of  the  small  intestines  is  so  lengthened,  that  this  structure 
of  the  colon  and  ccecum  is  not  needed,  and  they  are  neither  of  extra- 
ordinary size  nor  formed  into  cells 
3 


26 


INTRODUCTION. 


All  nutriment  of  every  kind  being  extracted,  and  the  residue 
having  reached  the  last  intestine,  the  rectum,  it  is  hurried  on  to  be 
expelled. 

Several  diseases  to  which  the  intestines  of  cattle  are  exposed 
having  reference  to,  or  being  seated  in,  different  coats  or  membranes 
ol  these  vessels,  it  will  be  necessary  to  speak  briefly  of  them.  In 
the  first  place,  they  are  all  wrapped  up  in  a very  thin  membrane  or 
bag,  yet  one  that  possesses  considerable  strength,  called  the  perito - 
neum . It  secretes  a serous  fluid,  and  thus  prevents  friction  in  the 
natural  motion  of  the  bowels  over  or  among  each  other;  and,  encir- 
cling them  all,  f4,  retains  each  pretty  much  in  its  place  and  restrains 
too  extensive  or  dangerous  motion.  The  outer  coat  of  the  intestines 
is  composed  of  a reflection  or  expansion  of  this  membrane,  and  is 
liable  to  a peculiar  inflammation.  The  second  coat  is  muscular,  and 
is  composed  of  a double  layer  of  fibres,  by  the  action  of  which  the 
food  is  conveyed  or  pressed  along  the  canal,  and  which  is  called  the 
peristaltic  motion.  The  inner  coat  is  the  mucous  one,  so  called  from 
the  jelly-like  substance  by  which  it  is  covered  ; called  also  the  villous 
coat,  from  its  velvet-like  construction.  It  is  thickly  set  with  innu- 
merable glands  pouring  out  this  mucus,  and  it  is  the  seat  of  inflam 
mation  in  over-purging. 

The  Mesentery,  or  that  membrane  by  which  the  intestines  are  en- 
folded from  beginning  to  end,  and  through  the  folds  of  which  the 
blood-vessels  and  nerves  that  supply  the  intestines,  and  the  veins, 
and  the  lacteals  pass,  is  only  a duplicature  of  the  peritoneum.  In 
different  parts  of  the  mesentery,  various  glandular  bodies  are  seen: 
they  are  the  mesenteric  glands,  the  precise  use  of  which  is  not  known, 
except  that  they  are  connected  with  the  passage  of  the  chyle.  The 
enlargement  or  obstruction  of  them  is  sometimes  attended  with  very 
serious  disease,  and  even  with  death.  The  omentum , or  caul , is  also 
a portion  of  the  peritoneum.  The  use  of  it  has  never  been  satisfacto 
rily  explained. 

The  Liver  is  a large  gland,  of  a dark-red  colour,  situated  in  the 
belly  on  the  right  side,  and  secreting  a bitter  fluid  named  bile , or  gall. 
It  receives  the  blood  that  returns  from  all  the  contents  of  the  belly, 
and  which  is  probably  so  loaded  with  carbon  that  it  could  not  all  be 
discharged  by  the  lungs ; the  quantity  of  atmospheric  air  that  can  be 
introduced  into  the  lungs  in  the  act  of  breathing  not  containing  suffi- 
cient oxygen  for  the  purpose.  The  blood  is,  therefore,  sent  into  the 
liver,  where  it  undergoes  a process  of  purification  to  a certain  extent. 
This  inflammable  matter,  the  carbon,  is  separated  in  the  form  of  bile ; 
and  when  that  is  conveyed  into  the  bowels,  in  order  that  it  may  be 
expelled,  it  is  rendered  exceedingly  useful  there,  either  by  separating 
Ihe  chyle,  or  quickening  the  passage  of  the  food,  or  both.  The  yellows 
in  cattle  is  caused  either  by  too  great  an  increase  of  bile,  or  by  ob- 
struction of  its  passage  into  the  intestines.  In  the  first  case  the  sur- 
plus quantity  is  taken  up  by  the  absorbents,  and  enters  in  n the 
circulation  and  tinges  the  blood  yellow ; and  in  the  other  case,  accu- 


INTRODUCTION.  27 

mutating  n tne  liver,  or  the  obstructed  ducts,  it  is  at  length  taken  up 
by  the  vessels  of  those  parts,  and  is  carried  over  the  frame. 

The  bile  is  received  into  a kind  of  reservoir  called  the  gall-bladder, 
in  which  it  is  stored  up  for  use:  at  the  same  time  it  is  probably  im- 
proved in  activity  by  the  absorption  of  some  of  the  fluid  parts  of  it. 

The  pancreas,  or  sweetbread,  is  a large  gland,  of  a whitish  colour, 
adhering  to  the  upper  portion  of  the  first  small  intestine,  and  which 
secretes  a fluid-like  saliva,  termed  the  pancreatic  juice,  that  is  poured 
into  the  intestines,  and  assists  in  the  process  of  digestion.  Of  the 
precise  nature,  however,  of  this  fluid,  or  the  manner  in  which  diges- 
tion is  promoted  by  it,  we  have  no  certain  knowledge. 

The  spleen , or  milt,  is  a large  and  oblong  substance  of  a dark  pur- 
ple hue,  situated  upon  the  paunch,  being  between  it  and  the  midriff. 
Of  the  office  discharged  by  the  spleen  we  have  no  satisfactory  infor- 
mation. 

The  Absorbents. — Every  part  of  the  body  is  continually  changing 
The  worn-out  portions  are  dissolved,  and  taken  up  by  the  absorberf 
vessels,  and  carried,  like  the  chyle,  into  the  circulation.  They  mingle 
with  and  form  part  of  the  blood,  and  aie  converted  aga;n  into  nutritive 
matter,  or  expelled  by  means  of  the  liver,  or  in  some  other  way 
These  absorbents,  or,  as  they  are  sometimes  called,  lymphatics,  art 
small  transparent,  elastic  tubes,  opening  upon  every  surface,  and 
every  portion  of  the  body,  external  and  internal. 

The  trunks  of  the  absorbents  are  arranged  into  two  systems,  ont 
ot  which  lies  near  the  surface  of  the  body,  and  the  other  is  more 
deeply  seated  ; and  both  follow  the  course  of  the  neighbouring  veins. 
They  have  valves  like  the  veins,  and  pour  their  contents  into  the 
circulation  at  the  same  point  with  the  veins. 

The  lymphatic  glands  form  a prominent  part  of  the  absorbent  sys- 
tem. They  answer  some  valuable  purpose,  for  every  absorbent,  in 
performing  its  course,  passes  through  one  or  more  of  these  glands. 
They  are  seen  in  the  mesentery  when  the  animal  is  opened,  and  they 
can  be  plainly  felt  in  the  neck  and  under  the  jaw. 

The  Blood. — The  blood  is  incessantly  circulating  in  the  heart  and 
arteries  and  veins.,  and  through  every  part  of  the  body,  supplying 
materials  for  its  nourishment  and  growth,  and  for  the  various  secre- 
tions. The  different  parts  of  the  system  are  constantly  receiving  and 
appropriating  to  themselves  those  elements  of  the  blood  which  are 
proper  to  supply  the  waste  they  sustain  from  the  necessary  actions 
of  life ; consequently  the  health  and  vigour  of  the  body  require  a 
new,  daily,  and  liberal  supply  of  fresh  blood.  That  supply  is  in  some 
measure  derived  from  the  absorbent  vessels  generally,  but  chiefly 
from  the  chyle,  which  is  separated  from  the  food  in  the  process  ot 
digestion. 

Blood,  received  into  a vessel  in  the  act  of  bleeding,  soon  separates 
into  two  parts ; on  3 of  which  is  fluid,  and  called  serum,  the  other 
sc. id,  and  called  red  clot,  or  cake,  or  crassamentum. 

Serum  is  the  watery  part  of  the  blood,  and  surrounds  the  red  clot 


INTRODUCTION. 


2* 

When  it  is  neated  to  1(10  degrees  of  Fahrenhi  it  s thermometer,  i* 
coagulates  like  the  white  of  an  egg;  but  it  has  no  appearance  of  be- 
ing organised. 

Red  Wnt.  or  Crassamenlum , coagulates  spontaneously  ; and  is  found 
to  consist  of  two  parts,  namely,  a fibrous  substance  called  coagulanle 
lymph  and  resembling  very  closely  the  muscular  fibres,  and  a great 
number  of  extremely  small  red  globules,  which  give  colour  to  the 
blood. 

Seer t .inn. — There  are  separated  from  the  general  mass  of  blood 
by  certain  organs  denominated  glands,  different  kinds  of  fluids,  sub- 
servient to  various  purposes ; and  the  process  by  which  they  are 
formed  is  termed  secretion . 

The  glands  on  the  internal  coat  of  the  stomach  secrete  the  gastric 
juice,  the  liver  secretes  the  bile,  and  the  saliva  is  derived  from  the 
glands  of  the  mouth.  In  some  cases  it  seems  to  be  a mere  filtration 
or  separation  of  certain  substances  from  the  blood  : in  others  it  is  the 
formation  of  a new  substance  that  did  not  previously  exist  there. 
With  regard  to  the  structure  of  the  glands,  there  is  considerable  ob- 
scurity. They  consist  of  a great  number  of  small  arteiies  which 
convey  the  blood  to  be  operated  upon,  and  of  corresponding  minute 
veins  that  return  the  blood  when  the  operation  is  complete;  but  of 
the  intermediate  substances  or  sets  of  vessels,  and  of  the  nature  of 
the  action  which  is  going  forward  in  them,  we  are  perfectly  ignorant. 

The  secretions  are  exceedingly  numerous,  very  different  in  theii 
character,  and  all  subservient  to  some  useful  purpose.'  The  most 
important  secretion  connected  with  the  cow  is  that  of  milk,  which  is 
formed  in  that  large  and  complicated  gland,  the  udder,  to  which  so 
many  blood-vessels  are  directed. 

The  functions  of  the  glands  are  much  affected  by  disease.  The 
secretion  is  sometimes  suspended.  In  dropping  after  calving,  and  in 
constipation,  the  secretions  of  the  udder  and  the  bovcels  partially  or 
entirely  cease.  At  other  times  the  fluids  which  they  afford  are  con- 
siderably increased.  In  purging,  the  glandular  follicles  of  the  bowels 
pour  out  a great  quantity  of  aqueous  fluid.  Occasionally  the  character 
of  the  secretion  is  changed.  The  discharge  of  mucus  from  the  nose, 
under  some  diseases,  and  the  fluid  which  escapes  from  the  bowels  in 
dysentery,  are  very  acrid  and  irritating. 

Perspiration. — A fluid  is  continually  passing  off  from  the  surface 
of  the  bHy  in  the  form  of  an  invisible  vapour ; and  when,  from  exer- 
cise  oi  other  causes,  the  quantity  is  increased,  it  becomes  visible  like 
a thick  stream,  and  collects  upon  the  skin  and  wets  the  hair,  or  falls 
in  drops.  This  is  the  perspiration  or  sweat.  It  is  necessary  to  health 
that  a considerable  quantity  of  fluid  should  escape  in  this  way. 
When,  from  sudden  exposure  to  cold,  this  discharge  from  the  skin  is 
suppressed,  either  generally,  or  in  a particular  part,  rheumatism,  oi 
noose,  or  catarrh,  is  the  result  Various  states  of  the  constitution, 
and  various  diseases,  wull  also  materially  influence  the  discharge.  A 
cessation  of  it  is  by  turns  the  consequence  and  the  cause  of  disease. 


INTRODUCTION. 


29. 


When  trie  3oat  stares,  it  is  owing  to  the  scales  of  the  outer  skin  be- 
coming dry  from  the  stoppage  of  perspiration,  and  turning  the  hair  in 
different  ways : when  the  coat  is  smooth  and  glossy,  it  is  caused  by 
the  perspiration  rendering  the  skin  moist  and  supple,  and  thus  per- 
mitting the  hair  to  take  its  natural  direction.  We  judge  with  consi- 
derable accuracy  of  the  health  of  the  animal  by  the  appearance  of  the 
eoat,  because  in  health  the  perspiration  flows  naturally,  and  in  dis 
ease  it  i - unduly  increased,  or  oftener  suspended. 

The  Organs  of  Urine. — The  kidneys  are  two  in  number,  of  an  oblong 
hape,  situated  in  the  loins  on  each  side  of  the  spine,  and  imbedded 
in  fat.  They  are  of  a red  colour,  and  divided  externally  into  between 
twenty  and  thirty  distinct  lobes,  or  portions. 

A great  quantity  of  blood  is  continually  circulating  through  them, 
and  they,  being  glandular  bodies,  separate  from  it  a fluid,  called  urine. 
The  peculiar  ingredient  of  the  urine,  urea , contains  a great  quantity 
of  a poisonous  substance  or  gas,  called  nitrogen.  It  would  therefore 
seem  that  the  kidney  is  the  organ  by  which  any  dangerous  excess  of 
nitrogen  in  the  constitution  is  removed.  Besides  the  urea,  nearly 
twenty  different  salts  and  compounds,  more  or  less  injurious,  have 
been  discovered  : so  that  the  kidney  is  a gland  of  immense  import- 
ance in  preventing  the  unhealthy  accumulation  of  these  matters.  It 
likewise  is  ready  to  act  instead  of  any  other  part  of  the  frame  that 
may  happen  to  be  diseased  or  out  of  order.  When  the  absorbents 
are  unable  .to  carry  off  the  fluid  received  into  the  stomach,  or  the 
lungs  or  the  skin  refuse  to  throw  off  their  share  of  perspirable  matter, 
the  kidneys  supply  their  place,  and  by  an  increased  flow  of  urine 
prevent  disease  and  danger. 

The  urine  is  conveyed  from  the  kidneys  into  the  bladder  by  two 
canals  called  the  ureters,  and  it  is  retained  until  a sufficient  quantity 
is  collected  to  excite  that  organ  to  contract,  and  to  expel  its  contents. 

The  Peritoneum  and  Caul. — The  peritoneum  is  a strong  and  exten- 
sive membrane,  lining  the  internal  surface  of  the  belly,  and  covering 
all  the  organs  contained  therein.  It  secretes  a fluid  which  keeps  the 
surface  of  the  intestines  moist,  and  thus  allows  free  motion  between 
them ; yet  at  the  same  time  enwrapping  them  on  every  side,  each 
is  kept  in  its  proper  situation,  and  strength  and  support  are  given  to 
the  whole. 

The  Omentum , or  Caul , is  a broad  and  fatty  membrane  formed  from 
the  peritoneum,  and  particularly  from  those  portions  of  it  that  are  re- 
flected from  the  paunch.  It  covers  the  four  stomachs  and  some  of  the 
Intestines.  Its  use  is  probably  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  the  peri- 
toneum: it  supports  the  intestines,  and  it  prevents  them  from  being 
injured  in  the  various  motions  of  the  body. 

The  Uterus  and  Pregnancy . — Reaching  from  the  external  parts  of 
generation  in  the  cow,  the  body  of  it  projecting  beyond  the  bladder, 
and  the  two  prolongations  or  horns  of  it  floating  loose  in  the  belly,  is 
the  uterus  or  womb,  in  which  the  unborn  calf  is  contained  and  nou- 
rished. At  the  extremity  of  each  of  the  horns  of  the  womb  is  a small 
3* 


30 


INTRODUCTION  . 


canal  or  tube,  conducting  to  an  oval  body  of  the  size  of  an  egg.  con 
taining  numerous  little  vesicles  or  bladders  called  ova,  or  eggs ; and 
the  collection  of  them  is  denominated  the  ovaries.  At  the  time  of 
conception  one  of  these  ova  escapes,  and  slowly  descends  the  tube 
and  enters  the  womb.  It  is  the  germ  of  the  future  animal,  but  scarcely 
larger  than  a pea.  Arrived  in  the  womb  it  floats  there  for  a while, 
and  at  length  becomes  attached  to  some  portion  of  it.  When  it  de- 
scended it  was  enveloped  by  two  membranes  or  coats,  and  two  others 
now  rapidly  form  over  it  from  the  uterus.  They  are  exceedingly 
vascular,  and  by  means  of  them,  and  the  vessels  proceeding  from 
them,  not  only  is  nourishment  conveyed  to  the  foetus,  but  the  blood 
which  has  circulated  through  its  little  frame  is  purified. 

At  the  fourth  week  it  has  attained  the  size  of  a mouse,  and  every 
limb  is  to  be  seen  nearly  perfect,  although  in  miniature.  It  has  eyes, 
although  at  present  it  sees  not,  and  a mouth,  but  no  food  enters  it: 
the  lungs  perform  no  office,  and  the  stomach  receives  no  nourish- 
ment ; but  the  blood  of  the  mother  is  sufficient  for  its  nutriment  and 
its  growth. 

In  the  cow  and  other  ruminant  animals  there  are  a vast  number  of 
red  prominences  between  the  membranes,  consisting  of  thousands  of 
convolutions  and  ramifications  of  blood-vessels : they  were  designed, 
probably,  more  completely  to  purify  the  blood,  and  render  it  more  fit 
for  the  nourishment  and  rapid  growth  of  the  quadrupeds  that  are  des- 
tined to  contribute  to  the  food  of  man. 

In  the  fourth  month  the  foetal  calf  is  large,  but  the  skin  is  not 
covered  with  hair.  About  the  sixth  or  seventh  month  the  hair  has 
spread  over  it,  and  at  the  expiration  of  nine  months  the  animal  is 
sufficiently  well  formed  and  strong  to  change  its  mode  of  existence. 
The  womb  has  now  attained  its  greatest  degree  of  distention : it  be- 
comes irritated  ; its  muscular  fibres  begin  to  contract ; labour  comes 
on,  and,  assisted  by  the  diaphragm  and  abdominal  muscles,  the  calf 
and  its  membranes  are  expelled,  and  the  young  animal  is  born. 

As  the  pelvis,  from  its  horizontal  position,  may  safely  be  much 
larger  in  these  animals  than  in  the  human  female,  parturition  is, 
generally  speaking,  not  dangerous  or  very  painful  in  the  quadruped. 
Difficult  labours,  however,  and  false  presentations  will  sometimes 
occur,  of  which  notice  will  be  taken  in  ^ e proper  place. 

The  Udder.  — The  udder  is  a large  andular  organ,  destined  to 
secrete  milk  for  the  nourishment  of  the  young  calf.  As  the  produce 
of  the  cow  is  confined  to  one,  or  at  most  to  two  calves  at  a birth,  the 
udder  would  perhaps  have  been  only  double,  as  in  the  mare,  were  it 
not  that  this  animal  is  intended  to  yield  the  greater  part  of  her  milk 
for  the  nourishment  of  man.  The  bag  is  therefore  quadruple,  or  there 
are  four  distinct  partitions  of  it. 

The  udder  is  made  up  of  numerous  minute  branches  of  arteries, 
from  the  exuemities  of  which  the  milk  is  secreted.  This  secretion  is 
always  going  on.  The  bag  of  a milch  cow  is  always  gradually  filling, 
vet  a considerable  proportion  of  that  which  is  given  is  secreted  at  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


31 


time  of  milking : for  it  must  be  evident  to  the  most  careless  observer, 
that  the  udder  could  not  possibly  contain  one-half  of  the  milk  which 
a good  dairy  cow  will  sometimes  yield.  The  milk  is  also  given  in 
greater  or  less  quantities  at  the  will  of  the  animal.  A cow  will  some- 
times not  yield  a drop  of  milk  to  a stYanger  calf,  while  to  her  own  she 
will  pour  it  out  in  abundance.  In  this  she  is  perhaps  assisted  by  the 
valves  which  are  placed  over  the  orifice  of  each  teat,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  milk  from  running  out.  When  the  calf  is  sucking,  he  is 
seen  to  push  the  teat  upwards,  he  then  lifts  these  valves:  the  dexter- 
ous milk-maid  is  well  acquainted  with  the  method  of  accomplishing 
the  same  object. 


EXPLANATIONS  OF  THE  OPPOSITE  CUT, 


1.  The  temporal  bone 

2.  The  frontal  bone,  or  bone  of  the  forehead. 

3.  The  orbit  of  the  eye. 

4.  The  lachrymal  bone. 

5.  The  malar,  or  cheek  bone, 

6.  The  upper  jaw-bone. 

7.  The  nasal  bone,  or  bone  of  the  nose. 

8.  The  nippers,  found  on  the  lower  jaw  alone. 

9.  The  eight  true  ribs. 

10.  The  humerus,  or  lower  bone  of  the  shoulder. 

11.  The  sternum. 

12.  The  ulna,  its  upper  part  forming  the  elbow. 

13.  The  ulna. 

24  The  radius,  or  principal  bone  of  the  arm 
15.  The  small  bones  of  the  knee. 

16  The  large  metacarpal,  or  shank  bone. 

17.  The  bifurcation  at  the  pasterns,  and  the  two  larger  pasterns  to  eacli  tost 

18.  The  sessamoid  bones. 

19.  The  bifurcation  of  the  pasterns. 

20.  The  lower  jaw  and  the  grinders. 

21.  The  vertebrae,  or  bones  of  the  neck. 

22.  The  navicular  bones. 

23.  The  two-coffin  bones  to  each  foot. 

24.  The  two  smaller  pasterns  to  each  foot. 

25.  The  smaller  or  splint-bone. 

26.  The  false  ribs,  with  their  cartilages. 

27.  The  patella,  or  bone  of  the  knee. 

28.  The  small  bones  of  the' hock. 

29.  The  metatarsals,  or  larger  bones  of  the  hind  leg 

30.  The  pasterns  and  feet. 

31.  The  small  bones  of  the  hock. 

32.  The  point  of  the  hock. 

33.  The  tibia,  or  proper  leg-bone. 

34.  The  thigh-bone. 

35.  The  bones  of  the  tail. 

2^'  J The  haunch  and  pelvis. 

38.  The  sacrum. 

39.  The  bones  of  the  loins. 

40.  The  bones  of  the  back. 

41.  The  ligament  of  the  neck  and  its  attachments. 

42.  The  scapula,  or  shoulder-blade. 

43.  The  bones  of  the  back. 

44  The  ligament  of  the  neck. 

45  The  dentata. 

46.  The  atlas. 

47.  The  occipital  bone,  deeply  depressed  below  the  crest  or  tidge  of  tfe 

head. 

48.  The  parietal  bone  low  in  the  temporal  fossa. 

49.  The  horns,  being  processes  or  continuations  of  the  trontal  bone. 


(32) 


SKELETON  OF  THE  OX 


474845 


ON 


THE  DISEASES 

OF 

HORNED  CATTLE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

INFLAMMATION. 

Inflammation  is  the  most  frequent  diseased  condition  to  whisfe 
neat  cattle  are  subject.  This  may  be  owing  to  their  peculiar  organi- 
zation in  respect  to  the  four  stomachs,  in  which  the  food  is  completely 
prepared  and  digested,  so  as  to  yield  all  its  nutriment.  This  compli- 
cated apparatus  was  necessary  in  the  animals  that  were  destined  to 
afford  us  so  much  liquid  nutriment  while  living,  and  good  fat  and 
flesh  when  dead  ; and  who  must  therefore  be  disposed  to  an  occasional 
redundancy  of  blood  in  the  system,  and  consequently  to  inflamma- 
tion. 

External  inflammation  is  known  by  the  part  being  swollen , tender , 
and  hotter  than  in  its  natural  state.  In  garget  or  downfall  of  the 
udder,  which  is  an  inflammation  of  one  or  more  quarters  of  the  bag, 
the  affected  parts  are  swollen,  tender,  and  hot. 

If  this  state  of  the  bag  is  neglected,  matter  or  pus  will  probably  be 
formed.  This  is  one  of  the  consequences  of  inflammation,  or  one  of 
the  methods  by  which  the  part,  and  the  constitution  generally,  are 
elieved,  and  which  is  usually  denominated  the  suppurative  process. 

Should,  however,  the  downfall  be  judiciously  treated,  the  swelling 
subsides,  and  the  heat  and  tenderness  gradually  vanish  : the  inflam- 
mation in  this  case  is  said  to  be  resolved . This  is  most  to  be  wished 
for,  and  should  always  be  attempted  in  inflammatory  complaints. 

In  black-leg,  a disease  frequent  in  young  cattle,  the  affected  part 
loses  its  sensibility,  and  becomes  dark-coloured,  and  is  said  to  be 
mortified.  It  is  then  speedily  separated,  or  ought  to  be  separated 
from  the  living  portions  around.  Mortification  is  usually  the  result 
of  violent  inflammation,  by  which  the  texture  of  the  part  is  speedily 
broken  down,  and  its  vitality  destroyed. 


S4 


INFLAMMATION, 


External  inflammation  most  frequently  proceeds  from  wounds,  o» 
Bruises,  or  other  accidents  to  which  cattle  are  liable.  These  produce 
different  degrees  of  disease,  according  to  the  severity  of  the  injury; 
and  when  the  inflammation  runs  high,  or  continues  long,  it  affects 
the  whole  system,  and  brings  on  fever ; or,  in  other  words,  a certain 
degree  of  inflammatory  action  pervades  the  entire  frame. 

External  inflammation  sometimes  results  from  causes  which  affect 
the  whole  system,  but  the  chief  mischief  of  which  is  determined  to 
particular  parts,  from  previous  weakness  in  them,  or  disposition  to 
take  on  inflammation.  This  is  the  case  with  inflammation  of  the 
udder  of  cows,  or  the  joints  of  young  cattle.  The  whole  frame  had 
been  exposed  to  cold ; but  the  udder  of  the  cow  that  bad  lately  calved 
was  very  much  disposed  to  inflammation,  and  the  joints  of  young 
cattle  had  not  acquired  their  full  strength.  In  inflammatory  fever, 
also,  the  inflammation  will  settle  in  particular  parts,  from  causes 
which  it  is  impossible  to  explain,  as  in  the  tongue  in  blain,  and  in 
the  limbs  in  quarter  evil. 

The  swelling  of  the  inflamed  part  is  principally  to  be  ascribed  to 
the  increased  quantity  of  blood  passing  through  it.  Every  little  vessel 
is  distended  by  the  additional  fluid  it  is  compelled  to  carry  ; and  there 
is  likewise  a greater  deposition  of  fluid  and  solid  matter  in  the  cellu- 
lar texture  of  the  inflamed  part : for  every  secretory  vessel  is  doing 
increased  duty  in  proportion  to  the  blood  with  which  it  is  supplied. 

In  the  minute  ramifications  of  the  vessels,  the  blood  is  changed 
from  arterial  to  venous ; and  it  is  while  this  change  is  effecting  that 
animal  heat  is  extricated  or  produced.  In  inflammation,  a great  deal 
more  than  the  natural  quantity  of  blood  is  passing  through  these 
vessels : a great  deal  more  is  changed  from  arterial  to  venous ; and  a 
great  deal  more  heat  must  necessarily  be  evolved. 

The  tenderness  is  caused  by  the  unnatural  distension  of  the  vessels, 
and  by  their  pressure  on  the  neighbouring  parts,  and  also  the  pressure 
of  the  natural  deposit  produced  by  inflammation.  The  nerves  of  sen- 
sibility likewise  unite  very  freely  with  the  nerves  of  another  order 
that  supply  the  capillaries ; and  when  the  nerves  of  the  capillaries 
are  irritated,  those  of  sensibility  will  become  irritable  too,  and  the 
part  will  become  so  tender  as  not  to  be  touched  without  extreme  pain. 

Internal  Inflammation, 

Internal  inflammation  is  characterised  by  other  and  often  more  in- 
distinct symptoms.  We  can  here  seldom  ascertain  the  heat  or  ten- 
derness or  swelling  of  the  part,  and  can  usually  only  judge  of  the 
complaint  by  the  effect  which  it  produces  on  the  system.  Every  in- 
ternal inflammation  does,  however,  soon  affect  the  system.  There  is 
no  Inflammation  of  any  important  internal  part  that  is  not  quickly 
accompanied  by  fever;  and  that  fever  and  the  degree  of  it  are  easily 
ascertained,  by  the  heat  of  the  breath  and  the  mouth  and  the  oase  of 
the  Lorn,  by  the  redness  of  the  eye,  and  the  frequency  and  hardness 


INFLAMMATION 


85 

•f  the  pulse,  the  loss  of  appetite,  and,  often,  the  cessation  of  rami* 
nation. 

The  symptoms  of  internal  inflammation  will  be  related  as  the  in 
flammation  of  each  part  comes  before  us. 

Whether  inflammation  is  internal  or  external,  resolution  is  to  be 
attempted,  or,  in  other  words,  the  inflammation  is  to  be  subdued. 

When  it  seizes  any  important  organ,  as  the  brain , lungs , bowels , 
kidneys , eyes , udder , or  womb , bleeding  is  to  be  immediately  had  le- 
course  to ; and,  after  bleeding,  a purging  drink  is  to  be  administered : 
sometimes  it  is  necessary  to  insert  a seton  in  the  dew-lap. 

In  external  inflammation  from  severe  bruises,  wounds,  and  other 
accidents,  fomentation  with  warm  water,  poultices  made  of  linseed 
meal  — when  they  can  be  applied  — and  the  purging  drink  (No.  2), 
give  much  relief.  If  external  inflammation  is  considerable,  it  will 
always  be  necessary  to  bleed  the  beast. 


CHAPTER  II. 

BLEEDING,  ITS  UTILITY  — AND  IN  WHAT  CASES  NECESSARY. 

Bleeding  is  a most  useful  and  powerful  remedy  in  the  cure  of  in 
flammatory  complaints.  It  lessens  the  quantity  of  blood  in  the  vessels, 
and  diminishes  nervous  power.  The  following  are  the  chief  diseases 
in  which  bleeding  is  required 

1.  Where  animals  in  a thriving  state  rub  themselves  until  the  hair 
comes  off,  and  the  spot  is  covered  with  a dry  scab ; while  at  the  same 
time  the  eyes  appear  dull,  languid,  red,  or  inflamed,  the  breath  hot, 
and  the  veins  puffed  up,  and  considerably  larger  than  usual. 

2.  In  all  kinds  of  inflammatory  diseases,  as  of  the  brain , lungs9 
kidneys , bowels , eyes , womb9  bladder , shape , and  udder , or  in  swelling 
of  the  joints. 

3.  In  the  disease  called  blain,  and  in  which  bleeding,  not  only 
general  but  local,  and  local  far  more  than  general,  has  the  best  possi- 
ble effect,  the  tumefaction  usually  almost  immediately  subsiding,  and 
the  beast  speedily  recovering. 

4.  When  the  glands  or  kernels  between  the  jaws,  or  those  of  the 
throat,  are  enlarged,  and  especially  if  they  are  only  recently  affected, 
immediate  recourse  should  be  had  to  bleeding,  for  otherwise  the  lungs 
will  probably  become  diseased,  and  dangerous  or  consumptive  hoose 
will  speedily  ensue. 

5.  In  bruises,  hurts,  wounds  upon  the  head,  strains  in  different 
parts,  and  all  other  accidents  that  may  occur  to  the  animal,  and  in 
which  there  is  reason  to  apprehend  considerable  inflammation,  bleed- 
ing will  be  proper. 

6.  In  violent  catarrh  or  cold,  bleeding  is  employed ; but,  in  sligh 
eases,  a few  fevar  drinks  will  restore  the  animal. 


36 


BLEEDING 


7.  The  yellows,  when  attended  with  feverish  symptoms,  or  const! 
pation  of  the  bowels,  requires  bleeding. 

The  manner  of  performing  this  operation  is  too  well  known  to  re 
quire  any  description. 

The  Fleam  is  an  instrument  in  general  use  for  oxen,  and  the  jugulai 
or  neck  vein  is  that  which  is  mostly  opened.  Local  bleeding  is,  how- 
ever, in  many  cases  particularly  serviceable.  In  inflammation  of  the 
eye,  the  eye-vein  is  frequently  cut;  in  foot-halt,  we  sometimes  bleed 
at  the  toe ; and  in  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  or  the  udder,  or  even 
of  the  chest,  blood  is  advantageously  taken  from  the  milk-vein. 

The  quantity  of  blood  that  it  may  be  proper  to  take  away  at  one 
time  cannot  here  be  determined ; but  must  be  regulated  by  the  size, 
strength,  and  condition  of  the  animal,  and  the  disease  under  which 
he  labours.  In  many  inflammatory  complaints  too  much  can  hardly 
be  taken,  provided  the  bleeding  is  stopped  as  soon  as  the  patient 
appears  likely  to  faint  or  to  fall  down.  A strong  healthy  beast  will 
bear  the  loss  of  five  or  six  quarts  of  blood,  without  the  least  injury. 
Larger  cattle,  that  are  attacked  with  inflammatory  complaints,  will 
profit  by  the  abstraction  of  a greater  quantity ; seven  or  eight  quarts 
may  be  taken  away  with  decided  advantage  : but  when  it  is  necessary 
to  repeat  the  bleeding,  the  degree  of  fever  and  the  strength  of  the 
beast  will  regulate  the  quantity.  The  blood  should  flow  from  a large 
orifice,  for  sudden  depletion  is  far  more  powerful  in  its  operation  than 
when  the  blood  is  suffered  slowly  to  trickle  down.  The  blood  must 
never  be  suffered  to  fall  upon  the  ground , but  should  be  received,  into  a 
measure , in  order  that  the  quantity  taken  maybe  known.  No  absolute 
quantity  of  blood  should  ever  be  prescribed,  but  when  extensive  bleed- 
ing is  demanded,  the  stream  should  flow  until  the  pulse  falters,  or 
intermits,  or  the  animal  begins  to  heave  violently,  or  threatens  to  fall, 
or  other  circumstances  show  that  the  system  is  sufficiently  affected. 
The  beast  should  not  be  permitted  to  drink  cold  water  immediately 
after  bleeding,  nor  to  graze  in  the  field : the  former  has  sometime.® 
induced  troublesome  catarrh,  and  the  latter  may  cause  the  orifice  tt 
open  again.  If  this  operation  is  performed  in  the  summer  season,  it 
will  be  most  prudent  to  fetch  the  cattle  out  of  the  pasture  towards 
evening,  in  order  that  they  may  be  bled  ; and,  after  that,  to  let  them 
stand  in  the  fold-yard  all  night,  and  drive  them  back  to  the  field  on 
the  following  morning. 


CHAPTER  III. 

ON  PHYSIC. 

Purging  medicines  operate  by  increasing  the  evacuation  of  faece 
from  the  bowels,  and  thus  often  removing  a very  considerable  source 
of  irritation.  They  augment  the  secretion  of  the  exigent  vessels 


PHYSIC  . 


31 


situated  on  the  internal  coat  of  the  intestines,  and  thus,  by  producing 
watery  stools,  lessen  the  quantity  of  fluid  circulating  through  the 
system  They  divert  the  increased  flow  of  the  blood  from  the  affected 
organ,  and  determine  it  to  the  bowels,  which  is  well  elucidated  in 
red  water;  and  they  have  a peculiar  influence  on  the  nervous  system, 
augmenting  the  energy  of  the  nerves  distributed  to  the  intestines,  but 
diminishing  it  in  other  parts  of  the  system. 

The  chief  purgatives  in  use  for  neat  cattle  are  Glauber’s  salts, 
Epsom  salts,  Barbadoes  aloes,  Linseed  oil,  and  Sulphur.  In  obsti- 
nate constipation  of  the  bowels,  ten  or  fifteen  grains  of  the  farina  of 
the  Croton  nut,  freshly  prepared,  may  be  added  vrith  good  effect. 
One  pound  of  Glauber’s,  or  Epsom  salts,  will  purge  a full-sized 
beast.  Aloes  are  very  properly  getting  into  disuse  : they  are  uncertain 
in  their  effect,  they  require  very  considerable  doses  of  them  to  be  given 
in  order  to  act  alone,  and  if  they  should  be  received  into  the  rumen 
they  are  apt  to  disgust  and  nauseate  the  animal.  Half  an  ounce,  or 
six  drachms  of  them,  however,  may  be  added  to  the  salts  in  particular 
diseases.  Where  there  is  considerable  fever,  or  the  attack  of  fever  is 
apprehended,  there  is  no  purgative  so  beneficial  as  the  Epsom  salts. 
In  bad  cases,  twenty -four  ounces  may  be  given  at  a dose,  and  eight 
ounces  of  sulphur  every  six  hours  afterwards,  until  the  full  purgative 
effect  is  produced.  Linseed  oil  is  rapidly  superseding  the  more  ex- 
pensive and  the  more  uncertain  castor  oil:  the  dose  is  from  a pint 
to  a pint  and  a half.  As  a mild  aperient,  and  in  cases  where  there 
is  no  great  degree  of  fever,  and  a violent  purge  is  not  required, 
there  are  few  better  things  than  Sulphur.  Where  nothing  else  is 
at  hand,  and  the  case  is  urgent,  Common  Salt  is  no  contemptible 
medicine : a pound  of  it  dissolved  in  water  will  produce  a very  fair 
purgative  effect?  but  it  should  not  be  given  if  the  animal  labours 
under  fever.  The  following  are  the  cases  in  which  purgative  me- 
dicines are  found  useful : — 

1.  I have  known  some  graziers  who,  when  feeding  old  cows  (dur- 
ing summer),  have  given  them  a purging  drink  about  every  six 
weeks,  by  way  of  keeping  off  the  downfall,  which  in  general  has  had 
the  desired  effect,  and  has  even  caused  them  to  fatten  more  rapidly. 

2.  A purging  drink  is  very  properly  given  to  cows  soon  after 
calving,  in  order  to  prevent  the  milk  fever. 

3.  Neat  cattle  are  naturally  of  a greedy  and  ravenous  disposition, 
and  their  appetite  is  hardly  ever  satisfied.  Milch  cows  in  particular, 
if  feeding  on  herbage,  or  other  food  agreeable  to  their  palate,  will 
often  continue  to  graze  until  they  are  in  danger  of  suffocation.  Thus 
the  powers  of  digestion  become  over-burdened,  and  the  animal  appears 
dull  and  heavy,  and  feverish  symptoms  are  induced.  Purgatives  wTill 
give  the  most  effectual  relief  in  these  cases,  and  if  the  appetite  does 
not  return  soon  after  the  physic,  a cordial  ball  will  be  useful  in  re- 
storing it. 

4.  Cows  that  are  turned  into  fresh  pastures  sometimes  become 
oound  in  their  body,  in  which  case  a purging  drink  must  be  imme* 

4 


38 


FH  YSIC  . 


diatcly  administered,  and  repeated  every  twelve  hours,  until  the 
desired  effect  is  obtained : a clyster  should  be  given,  if  the  first  drink 
does  not  operate.  If  the  costiveness  is  accompanied  with  pain  and 
feverish  symptoms,  inflammation  of  the  bowels  is  to  be  suspected 
and  must  be  treated  accordingly. 

5.  When  red-water  is  recent,  a purging  drink  or  two  will  often 
completely  remove  it. 

6.  In  the  yellows  it  is  generally  necessary  to  give  a purging  drink, 
and,  after  that,  cordial  tonic  drinks,  in  order  to  invigorate  the  digestive 
organs, 

7.  Wnen  medicines  are  given  to  prevent  cows  from  slipping  theii 
calves,  they  are  generally  preceded  by  physic. 

8.  In  all  inflammatory  complaints,  a purging  drink  should  be  ad 
ministered  after  the  bleeding. 

9.  If  external  inflammation,  occasioned  by  wounds,  bruises,  and 
other  causes,  runs  high,  and  affects  the  whole  system,  purgative 
medicines  are  absolutely  necessary. 


CHAPTER  IV 

ON  SETONING. 

The  utility  of  setoning  for  the  cure  of  several  diseases  incident  to 
neat  cattle  cannot  be  doubted.  There  are  many  localities  in  which, 
if  farmers  did  not  adopt  this  precaution,  they  would  lose  great  num- 
bers of  their  young  from  the  black  leg. 

In  some  districts  the  hoose  in  calves  is  very  prevalent  and  fatal . 
where  this  is  the  case,  they  should  all  be  setoned  when  they  are 
getting  into  condition,  and  before  they  are  attacked  by  the  disease. 
This  will  either  lessen  the  violence  of  the  complaint  or  prevent  it 
altogether. 

In  joint  evil,  I have  frequently  inserted  a seton  in  the  dewlap  with 
decided  good  effect. 

Setoning  will  be  often  prescribed,  in  the  course  of  this  treatise,  in 
inflammatory  complaints ; and  it  acts  by  exciting  a new  and  artificial 
inflammation  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  former  one,  and  thus  lessen- 
ing its  intensity.  This  plainly  proceeds  on  the  principle  of  diverting 
to  another  part  a portion  of  the  blood  which  was  determined  to  the  ~ 
original  one,  while  also  a new  direction  is  given  to  a portion  of  the 
nervous  influence  or  power  which  was  concentrated  on  it.  This  is  in 
accordance  with  the  generally  received  medical  maxim,  that  no  two 
violent  inflammations,  of  different  character,  can  exist  in  neighbour- 
ing parts  at  the  same  time ; and  that  in  proportion  to  the  intensity  of 
the  one  the  other  will  be  diminished. 

By  the  discharge  which  a seton  produces  it  will  likewise  relieve 
the  overloaded  vessels  of  a neighbouring  inflamed  part. 


0ETOHINO. 


3ft 


Mode  of  inserting  a Seton . — The  seton  is  commonly  made  of  tow 
and  horse  hair  plaited  together,  or  cord  or  coarse  tape  alone,  or  lea- 
ther. It  should  be  tolerably  thick,  and  eight,  ten,  or  twelve  inches 
in  length.  Before  inserting  the  seton,  it  should  be  dipped  in  oil  of 
turpentine.  The  seton  being  now  prepared,  an  assistant  is  to  hold 
the  animal,  while  the  seton-needle,  with  the  cord  affixed  to  it,  is 
plunged  into  the  upper  edge  of  the  brisket  or  dewlap,  and  brought 
Cut  again  towards  its  lower  edge : the  space  between  the  t^o  open- 
ings should  be  from  four  to  eight  inches  The  seton  is  to  be  secured 
by  fastening  a small  piece  of  wood,  or  tying  a large  knot  at  either 
end  of  the  cord.  Matter  will  begin  to  run  the  second  day,  and,  after 
that,  the  cord  should  be  drawn  backwards  and  forwards  two  or  three 
times  every  day,  in  order  to  irritate  the  parts,  and  by  this  means  in- 
crease the  discharge. 

When  setoning  is  had  recourse  to  in  inflammatory  complaints,  the 
cord  should  be  dipped  in  the  following  blistering  ointment : — 

Blistering  Ointment.— Take  yellow  basilicon,  one  ounce ; cantharides,  in  powder, 
three  drachms;  spirit  of  turpentine,  two  fluid  drachms. 

This  ointment  will  be  found  to  act  efficaciously  and  quickly  in  stimu- 
lating the  parts  to  action,  and  hastening  on  the  suppurative  process. 

The  root  of  the  common  dock  forms  a very  good  seton,  and  one 
that  will  act  speedily  and  powerfully ; but  the  best  of  all,  where  a 
considerable  effect  is  intended  to  be  produced,  is  the  root  of  the  black 
hellebore.  This  will  very  quickly  cause  considerable  swelling  as 
well  as  discharge. 


CHAPTER  V. 

COLD  AND  COUGH  — HOOSE. 

A simple  cold,  attended  by  slight  cough  and  discharge  from  the 
nostrils,  is  easily  removed.  Warm  housing,  a few  mashes,  and  the 
following  drink,  will  usually  succeed ; — 

RECIPE  (No.  I). 

Cough  and  Fever  Drink.— Take  emetic  tartar,  one  drachm ; powdered  digitalis, 
naif  a drachm ; and  nitre,  three  drachms.  Mix,  and  give  in  a quart  of  tolerably 
thick  gruel. 

There  are  few  things,  however,  more  dangerous,  if  neglected,  than 
cough  or  hoose ; and  there  are  few  maladies  that  are  so  often  ne- 
glected. 

The  farmer  will  go  into  the  cow-house,  or  into  the  pasture,  again 
and  again,  and  hear  some  of  his  cows  coughing,  and  that  perhaps 
hardly,  or  hollowly,  or  painfully  ; but,  while  they  continue  to  chew 
the  cud,  and  do  not  waste  in  flesh,  he  thinks  little  about  it,  and  suffers 
hem  to  take  their  chance. 


40 


COLD  AND  COUGH IIOOSE. 


The  inflammation  is  slight ; the  animal  is  scarcely  ill  at  all ; tK*? 
cough  remits  and  returns,  with  or  without  his  observation.  He  adds 
to  it,  perhaps,  by  improper  treatment.  He  exposes  the  beast  unne- 
cessarily to  cold  or  wet;  or  he  crowds  his  cattle  into  stables  shame- 
fully small  compared  with  the  number  of  the  animals,  and  the  air  is 
hot  and  nauseous,  and  charged  with  watery  fluid  thrown  off'  from  the 
lungs  and  from  the  skin.  The  cough  increases,  it  becomes  hoarse, 
and  harsh,  and  painful ; and  that  affection  is  established  which  oftener 
lays  the  foundation  for  consumption  and  death  than  any  other  malady 
to  which  these  animals  are  exposed. 

That  farmer  is  inattentive  to  his  own  interests  who  suffers  a cough, 
and  especially  a hoarse,  feeble  cough,  to  hang  about  his  cattle  longer 
than  he  can  help.  He  should  be  warned  in  time,  before  his  cows  are 
getting  off  their  feed,  and  becoming  thin,  and  are  half  dry ; for  then 
it  will  generally  be  too  late  to  seek  for  advice,  or  to  have  recourse  to 
medical  care : the  disease  has  fastened  upon  a vital  part,  and  the 
constitution  is  undermined. 

Cough  occasionally  assumes  an  epidemic  character — from  sudden 
changes  of  the  weather,  chiefly  and  particularly  in  the  spring  and  the 
fall  of  the  year : it  then  spreads  over  a great  part  of  the  country,  and 
is  often  particularly  severe. 

The  symptoms  of  epidemic  cold  or  catarrh,  or  influenza,  as  it  is 
sometimes  called,  are  frequently  serious.  The  beast  is  dull  and 
heavy,  with  weeping  at  the  eyes,  and  dry  muzzle;  the  hair  looks 
pen-feathered,  or  staring ; the  appetite  fails ; the  secretion  of  milk  is 
diminished;  there  is  considerable  heaving  of  the  flanks;  the  pulse 
is  from  60  to  70,  and  the  bowTels  are  generally  costive  or  sapped . 

Cattle  that  have  been  tenderly  managed  during  the  winter,  and 
cows  after  calving,  are  very  subject  to  it,  especially  if  they  have  been 
poorly  fed,  or  driven  long  distances,  and  exposed  to  a cold,  piercing 
wind. 

It  will  be  necessary  to  commence  the  treatment  of  this  disease  with 
bleeding.  From  four  to  six  quarts  of  blood  should  be  taken,  and  then 
a dose  of  physic  administered.  The  following  will  be  a good  purga- 
tive medicine  in  such  a case  : — 

RECIPE  (No.  2). 

Purging  Drink. — Take  epsom  salts,  one  pound  ; powdered  caraway-seeds,  half  an 
ounce.  Dissolve  in  a quart  of  warm  gruel,  and  give. 

After  that  the  drink  No.  1 should  be  given  morning  and  night,  the 
drink  No.  2 being  repeated  if  the  bowels  should  be  costive. 

It  will  be  proper  to  house  the  beast,  and  especially  at  night;  and  a 
mash  of  scalded  bran  with  a few  oats  in  it,  if  there  is  no  fever,  should 
be  allowed.  It  is  necessary  carefully  to  watch  the  animals  that  are 
‘abounng  under  this  complaint ; and,  if  the  heaving  should  continue, 
or  the  muzzle  again  become  or  continue  dry,  and  the  breath  hot,  more 
blood  should  be  taken  away,  and  the  purging  drink  repeated.  At  the 
close  of  the  epidemic  catarrh  the  animal  will  sometimes  be  left  weak 


COLD  AND  COUGH IIOOSE. 


4. 


a»*d  with  little  appetite.  It  should  be  well  ascertained  whether  the 
fever  has  quite  left  the  beast,  -because  listlessness  and  disinclination 
to  move,  and  loss  of  appetite,  and  slight  staggering,  may  result  as 
much  from  the  continuance  of  fever  as  from  the  debility  which  it 
.eaves  behind.  If  the  muzzle  is  cool  and  moist,  and  the  mouth  not 
hot,  and  the  pulse  sunk  to  nearly  its  natural  standard,  or  rather  below 
it,  and  weak  and  low,  the  following  drink  may  be  ventured  on ; but 
No.  1 must  be  returned  to  if  there  is  the  slightest  appearance  or  in- 
crease of  cold  or  fever. 

RECIPE  (No.  3). 

Take  err.etic  tartar,  half  a drachm;  nitre,  two  drachms;  powdered  gentian  root 
ine  drachm  ; powdered  chamomile  flowers,  one  drachm  ; and  powdered  ginger,  half  a 
Sachin.  Pour  upon  them  a pint  of  boiling  ale,  and  give  the  infusion  when  nearly 
••old. 

When  the  beast  begins  to  recover,  he  should  not  be  exposed  in  any 
♦leak  situation,  or  to  much  rough  weather. 

In  some  years  this  epidemic  disease  destroys  a great  many  cattle, 
/hi  the  winter  of  1830,  and  in  the  spring  of  1831,  thousands  of  young 
f-attle  perished  in  every  part  of  the  country.  Some  of  them  were 
carefully  examined  after  death,  and  the  membrane  lining  the  wind- 
pipe was  found  to  be  inflamed,  and  the  inflammation  extending  down 
to  and  involving  all  the  small  passages  leading  to  the  air-cells  of  the 
lungs. 

In  a great  many  instances  the  windpipe  was  nearly  filled,  and  the 
small  passages  of  the  lungs  were  absolutely  choked  by  myriads  of 
little  worms.  These  cattle  had  had  their  flanks  particularly  tucked 
up,  and  had  stood  and  coughed  with  a violence  that  threatened  every 
moment  to  burst  some  blood-vessel ; and  well  they  might  cough  thus 
violently,  when  the  delicate  and  sensitive  lining  of  the  air-tubes  was 
incessantly  irritated  by  the  motion,  if  not  by  the  bites,  of  these 
worms.  The  origin  of  the  worms  no  one  has  satisfactorily  ascer- 
tained. There  is  no  doubt  that  there  are  innumerable  little  eggs  of 
various  cmmalculae,  too  small  to  be  seen  by  the  unassisted  eye, 
always  floating  in  the  air,  and  only  waiting  for  some  proper  situation 
or  nest  in  order  to  be  nursed  into  life.  The  proper  nidus  or  nest  of 
these  animals  is  probably  the  mucus  of  the  air-passages,  and  they  are 
plentifully  lodged  upon  it  in  the  act  of  respiration. 

I scarcely  know  what  to  advise  in  the  treatment  of  these  aggravated 
cases.  The  violent  cough  is  an  effort  of  nature  to  expel  the  parasites. 
Can  we  assist  her  in  accomplishing  that  expulsion  ] There  are  cer- 
tain medicines  which  afford  us  much  relief  when  we  have  difficulty 
in  expectorating  a quantity  of  thick  viscid  phlegm.  After  a dose  or 
two  of  liquorice  or  squills  we  find  the  cough  considerably  loosened, 
or,  in  other  words,  the  phlegm  is  a great  deal  more  fluid,  and  easily 
got  rid  of.  The  ?ame  effect,  although  not  to  such  an  extent,  is  pro- 
duced in  cattle,  and  a few,  at  least,  of  the  worms  are  expelled.  The 
following  prescrVtfQn  may  be  tried  with  advantage 
4# 


42 


COLD  AND  COUGH  — HO089. 


RECIPE  (No.  4). 

Expectorant  Drink. — Take  liquorice  root,  two  ounces;  bruise,  and  boil  m a quart 
of  water  until  the  fluid  is  reduced  to  a pint;  then  gradually  and  carefully  add— > 

Eowdered  squills,  two  drachms;  powdered  gum  guai-acum,  one  drachm  ; tincture  of 
alsam  of  Tolu,  half  an  ounce ; honey,  two  ounces.  Give  it  morning  and  night. 

There  is  another  way  in  which  the  worms  may  with  greater  cer- 
tainty be  got  rid  of.  There  are  some  substances  which  are  immediately 
destructive  to  worms  when  brought  into  contact  with  them.  Some  of 
these  medicaments  may  be  taken  into  the  circulation  of  the  animal 
with  perfect  safety  to  him,  and  probably  death  to  the  worms.  Among 
those  which  most  readily  enter  into  the  circulation  after  being  swal- 
lowed is  the  oil  or  spirit  of  turpentine.  The  breath  is  very  soon 
afterwards  tainted  with  its  smell,  which  shows  that  a portion  of  it 
has  passed  into  the  lungs.  Therefore,  when  other  means  have  failed, 
and  the  continuance  of  the  violent  cough  renders  it  extremely  proba- 
ble that  worms  are  in  the  air  passages,  the  following  prescription 
may  be  resorted  to : 

RECIPE  (No.  5). 

Turpentine  Drink  for  Worms.’— Take  oil  of  turpentine,  two  ounces;  sweet  spirit 
of  nitre,  one  ounce ; laudanum,  half  an  ounce  ; linseed  oil,  four  ounces.  Mix,  and 
give  in  a pint  of  gruel. 

This  may  be  repeated  every  morning  without  the  slightest  danger ; 
and  even  when  we  are  a little  afraid  to  give  it  longer  by  the  mouth,  it 
may  be  thrown  up  in  the  form  of  an  injection.  A pint  of  lime  water 
every  morning,  and  two  table-spoonfuls  of  salt  every  afternoon,  have 
also  been  administered  with  advantage  when  worms  are  present  in 
the  windpipe. 

Before  I quit  the  subject  of  hoose,  I must  repeat  my  caution  against 
the  use  of  spices  and  cordials  for  the  cure  of  this  disease.  Hundreds 
of  animals  are  yearly  lost  by  this  mode  of  treatment.  As  easily  may 
a fire  be  put  out  by  pouring  oil  upon  it,  as  hoose,  attended  with  feve 
(and  it  is  so  attended  nine  times  out  of  ten),  be  subdued  by  the  far- 
rier’s comfortable,  or,  in  other  words,  highly  stimulating,  and  almos* 
intoxicating  drink. 

Should  the  case  appear  to  he  obstinate,  the  exhibition  of  half  doses 
of  physic  every  second  or  third  day  will  often  be  useful,  with  the 
following  drink,  morning  and  night,  on  each  of  the  intermediate 
days : — 

RECIPE  (No.  o. 

Take  digitalis,  one  scruple ; emetic  tartar,  half  a drachm;  nitre,  three  drachms* 
powdered  squills,  one  drachm ; opium,  one  scruple.  Mix,  and  give  with  a pint  of 
gruel. 

A seton  in  the  dewlap  should  never  be  omitted  ; and  if  the  disease 
seems  to  be  degenerating  into  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  the  treat- 
ment must  be  correspondingly  active. 

The  termination  of  hoose  that  is  most  to  be  feared  is  consumption. 
That  will  be  indicated  when  the  discharge  from  the  nose  becomes 
purulent,  or  bloody,  and  the  breath  stinking,  and  the  cough  continues 
to  be  violent,  while  the  beast  feeds  badly,  and  the  eyes  begin  to  ap 


COLD  AND  COUGH IIOOSE. 


43 


pear  sunk  in  the  head,  and  he  rapidly  loses  flesh.  The  best  remedy 
here,  so  far  as  both  the  owner  and  the  animal  are  concerned,  is  the 
pole-axe  of  the  butcher ; for  in  the  early  part  of  the  disease  the  meat 
is  not  at  all  injured,  and  may  be  honestly  sold.  If,  however,  it  is 
wished  that  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  save  the  animal,  the  cough 
and  fever  drink  (No.  1,  p.  46)  may  be  given  daily;  more  attention 
should  be  paid  to  the  warmth  and  comfort  of  the  beast ; and,  if  the 
weather  is  favourable,  it  should,  after  a while,  be  turned  into  a salt 
marsh,  either  entirely,  or  during  the  day. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LUNGS. 

When  common  catarrh  has  been  neglected,  it  will  sometimes  run 
on  to  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  or  the  beast  may  be  attacked  with 
this  disease  without  any  of  the  previous  symptoms  of  catarrh.  This 
is  a very  serious  complaint,  and  requires  the  most  prompt  and  deci- 
sive treatment. 

The  symptoms  are  dulness,  shivering,  and  cough  that  is  particu- 
larly sore ; the  ears,  roots  of  the  horns,  and  legs  are  sometimes  cold, 
but  not  invariably  so,  as  the  quantity  of  cellular  membrane  about  the 
legs  is  often  sufficient  to  keep  them  warm  in  spite  of  the  nature  of 
the  complaint;  the  breath  and  mouth  are  hot;  the  mouth  is  generally 
open,  and  there  is  a ropy  discharge  from  it ; the  beast  will  often  lie 
down,  and  can  scarcely  be  induced  to  move ; the  flanks  heave  very 
laboriously,  and  the  head  is  protruded,  showing  the  great  difficulty 
of  breathing.  The  pulse  is  not  always  much  increased  in  number, 
but  is  oppressed,  and  can  sometimes  scarcely  be  felt. 

Inflammation  of  the  lungs  is  caused  by  the  perspiration  being  ob- 
structed from  sudden  and  great  changes  of  the  weather,  especially 
when  accompanied  with  wet.  Cattle  that  are  driven  long  distances, 
and  then  exposed  to  the  cold  and  damp  air  of  the  night,  are  particu- 
larly liable  to  it.  In  most  cases  it  can  be  traced  to  the  cattle  being 
imprudently  exposed  to  cold ; but  when  the  cause  is  not  so  apparent, 
it  oftenest  attacks  those  that  are  in  good  condition. 

Young  cattle,  and  particularly  calves,  are  more  subject  to  this  dis- 
ease than  older  ones ; and  in  them  it  must  be  principally  attributed 
to  their  being  in  a state  of  plethora,  that  is,  having  a redundancy  of 
blood  in  their  systems. 

Sometimes  the  membrane  covering  the  lungs  and  lining  the  chest 
is  the  part  principally  attacked ; the  disease  is  then  termed  pleurisy , 
and  is  in  this  form  often  complicated  with  rheumatism,  but  it  is  more 
usual  for  the  substance  of  the  lungs  to  be  affected  in  common  with 
their  envelopments. 


44 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LUNGS 


Copious  bleeding  is  the  remedy  most  to  be  depended  on  for  sub 
duing  the  inflammation,  and  should  be  had  recourse  to  as  soon  as  the 
disease  is  discovered.  The  beast  should  be  put  into  a cool  cow-house 
well  littered,  and  immediately  bled.  If  the  difficulty  of  breathing  and 
other  symptoms  are  not  much  relieved  in  six  or  eight  hours  after  the 
first  bleeding,  it  should  be  repeated.  A third  or  fourth  bleeding  may 
in  bad  cases  be  requisite.  In  this  disease,  more  than  in  any  other, 
the  person  who  attends  the  cattle  should  be  present  when  the  beast 
is  bled.  It  is  impossible,  by  looking  at  the  patient,  and  considering 
the  symptoms,  to  say  what  quantity  of  blood  ought  to  be  taken  away; 
but  as  a general  rule,  and  especially  in  inflammation  of  the  lungs, 
and  at  the  first  bleeding,  the  blood  should  flow  until  the  pulse  begins 
to  faJ&r,  and  the  animai  seems  inclined  to  faint.  Tke  faltering  of  the 
pulse  will  regulate  the  quantity  of  the  after-bleedings.  Little  bleed- 
ings of  two  or  three  quarts,  at  the  commencement  of  inflammation  of 
the  lungs,  can  never  be  of  service ; from  six  to  eight  quarts  must  be 
taken,  or  even  more,  regulated  by  the  circumstances  that  have  been 
mentioned,  and  the  blood  should  flow  in  a large  full  stream. 

A seton  should  be  set  in  the  dewlap  immediately  after  the  first 
oleeding,  and  the  purging  drink  (No.  2,  p.  47)  given.  Four  drachms 
of  nitre,  two  of  extract  of  belladonna,  and  one  of  tartarized  antimony, 
may  afterwards  be  administered  twice  a day  in  a drink. 

In  very  severe  cases  the  chest  has  been  fired  and  blistered  with 
advantage. 

Warm  water  and  mashes  must  be  regularly  given  two  or  three 
times  a day. 

When  the  beast  has  recovered,  it  will  be  proper,  as  much  as  possi- 
ble, to  avoid  all  those  causes  which  induced  the  complaint.  The 
animal  should  for  a short  time  be  housed  during  the  night,  and,  if  the 
weather  is  very  unsettled,  kept  up  altogether,  or  turned  out  for  a few 
hours  only  in  the  middle  of  the  day. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

RHEUMATISM,  OR  JOINT-FELLON. 

The  early  symptoms  of  this  complaint  are  those  of  common  catarrh, 
with  no  great  cough,  but  more  than  usual  fever:  by  degrees,  how- 
ever, the  animal  shows  some  stiffness  in  moving,  and  if  the  hand  is 
pressed  upon  the  chine  or  any  part  of  the  back,  the  beast  will  shrink, 
as  if  this  gave  him  pain.  When  the  complaint  goes  no  farther  than 
this,  it  is  called  chine-fellon  in  many  parts  of  the  country ; but  gene- 
rally, in  two  or  three  days,  the  animal  appears  stiffer  in  the  joints ; 
these  afterwards  begin  to  swell,  and  are  evidently  painful,  particu 
larly  when  he  attempts  to  move.  Sometimes  the  stiffness  extends  aJ f 


RHEUMATISM,  OR  JOINT-FELLON.  45 

% 

over  the  body,  and  to  such  a degree  that  the  beast  is  unable  to  rise 
without  assistance. 

This  is  generally  termed  joint-fellon.  Old  cows  are  very  subject  to 
It,  and  especially  a short  time  before  calving;  but  milch  cows  and 
young  cattle  are  oftener  attacked  by  it  at  the  spring  of  the  year.  It 
is  mostly  occasioned  by  the  animal  being  kept  in  a state  of  poverty 
during  the  winter,  and  suddenly  exposed  to  the  vicissitudes  of  the 
weather  in  the  spring,  or  to  the  inclemency  of  the  north  or  north- 
easterly winds,  especially  in  low  situations. 

This  disease  sometimes  comes  on  suddenly,  and  is  present  in  a 
very  acute  form,  being  in  fact  a severe  chill : these  acute  symptoms 
may  subside,  and  be  succeeded  by  others,  milder  but  more  obstinate. 
Sometimes  abscesses  will  form  amongst  the  muscles,  or  the  sheaths 
or  bodies  of  the  tendons  ; and  the  capsular  ligaments  of  the  joints  are 
often  distended  with  synovia.  These  symptoms  are  particularly  un- 
favourable. 

In  this  disease  we  find  the  same  class  of  membranes,  viz.,  the 
serous,  diseased  throughout  the  body,  and  an  examination  after  death 
sometimes  exhibits,  in  addition  to  the  diseased  appearances  before 
noticed,  the  membrane  lining  the  heart,  the  chest,  and  the  abdomen, 
considerably  affected,  either  wholly  or  in  part,  and  sometimes  a con- 
siderable effusion  of  water  in  these  cavities. 

As  soon  as  the  disease  makes  its  appearance,  the  beast  must  be 
taken  to  a warm  cow-house  or  stable,  or  some  situation  sheltered 
from  the  severity  of  the  weather.  The  following  purging  drink  should 
then  be  given : — 

RECIPE  (No.  7). 

Sulphur  Purging-  Drink.—  Take  sulphur,  eight  ounces ; ginger,  half  an  ounce.  Mix 
with  a quart  of  warm  gruel.  This  drink  should  be  repeated  every  third  day  if  tho 
bowels  appear  to  require  it. 

The  bowels  having  been  gently  opened,  a drink  which  may  cause 
some  determination  to  the  skin,  and  increase  the  insensible  perspira- 
tion, should  be  administered. 

RECIPE  (No.  8). 

Rheumatic  Drink.— Take  nitre,  two  drachms;  tartarized  antimony,  one  drachm 
spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  one  ounce;  aniseed  powder,  an  ounce.  Mix  with  a pint  of 
very  thick  gruel,  and  repeat  the  dose  morning  and  night,  except  when  it  is  necessary 
to  give  the  sulphur  purging  drink  (No.  7). 

If  there  should  be  much  fever  at  any  period  of  the  complaint,  the 
sulphur  drink  must  be  exchanged  for  the  purging  drink  (No.  2,  p.  47), 
and  three  or  four  quarts  of  blood  taken  away. 

If  any  of  the  joints  should  continue  swelled  and  painful,  they 
should  be  rubbed  twice  a day,  and  for  a quarter  of  an  hour  each  time, 
with  a gently  stimulating  embrocation. 

RECIPE  (No.  9). 

Rheumatic  Embrocation. — Take  neat’s  foot  oil,  four  ounces;  and  camphorated  oil 
spirit  of  turpentine,  and  laudanum,  each  one  ounce;  oil  of  origanum,  one  drachm 
Mix. 


4 


46  RHEUMATISM,  OR  JOINT-FELLON. 

Should  a scaly  eruption  break  out  on  the  joints,  or  any  part  of  the 
legs,  after  the  beast  has  apparently  recovered,  an  ointment  composed 
as  follows  will  generally  clear  off  the  scurf,  heal  the  cracks  or  sores, 
and  cause  the  hair  to  grow  again. 

RECIPE  (No.  10). 

Healing  Cleansing  Ointment. — Take  lard,  two  pounds ; resin,  half  a pound.  Mel' 
them  together,  and  when  nearly  cold,  stir  in  calamine,  very  finely  powdered,  half  « 
pound. 

If  stiffness  or  swelling  of  the  joints  should  remain  after  the  in- 
flammation and  tenderness  are  removed,  the  joints  should  be  well 
rubbed  morning  and  night  with  a gently  stimulating  embrocation. 
The  following  will  be  as  good  as  any : — 

RECIPE  (No.  11). 

Camphorated  Oil.—' Take  camphor,  two  ounces,  and  break  it  into  small  pieces ; put 
t into  a pint  of  spermaceti  or  common  olive  oil,  and  let  the  bottle,  being  closely 
stopped,  and  shaken  every  day,  stand  in  a warm  place  until  the  camphor  is  dis- 
solved. 

When  a beast  has  had  one  attack  of  rheumatism,  he  will  be  always 
subject  to  its  return,  and  therefore  should  be  taken  more  than  usual 
care  of  in  cold  variable  weather ; and  should  he  appear  to  have  a 
slight  catarrh,  or  to  walk  a little  stiffer  than  usual,  he  should  be 
housed  for  a night  or  two,  and  should  have  a warm  mash,  and  the 
following  cordial  rheumatic  drink ; which,  however,  would  be  very 
improper  in  hoose  or  cold,  or  rheumatism  connected  with  any  degree 
of  fever. 

RECIPE  (No.  12). 

Cordial  Rheumatic  Drink.— Take  rhododendron  leaves,  four  drachms;  and  boil  it 
in  a quart  of  water  until  it  is  diminished  to  a pint ; strain  the  decoction,  and  to  half 
of  the  liquid,  warm,  add  gum  guaiacum,  finely  powdered,  two  drachms ; powdered 
caraway-seeds,  two  drachms;  and  powdered  aniseed,  two  drachms,  mixed  with  half  a 
pint  of  warm  ale. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LIVER. 

This  is  a disease  to  which  cattle  are  oftener  subject  than  is  ima 
gined,  and  particularly  those  that  are  in  high  condition  and  stall-fed : 
the  symptoms,  however,  are  usually  sufficiently  distinct,  to  guide  the 
attentive  observer. 

When  the  milch  cow  is  attacked,  there  is  a diminution  of  the  milk, 
and  it  has  a ropy  appearance  and  saltish  taste  after  being  separated 
from  the  cream.  The  animal  has  a heavy  appearance,  the  eyes  being 
dull,  the  countenance  depressed,  with  a stiffened,  staggering  gait; 
the  appetite  is  impaired,  and  the  membrane  of  the  nostrils  and  the 
skin  is  of  a yellow  colour.  Sometimes  the  respiration  is  much  dis- 
turbed ; at  others,  it  appears  tranquil ; but  the  pulse,  though  unusually 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LIVER. 


47 


quickened,  is  rarely  hard  or  full.  The  bowels  are  generally  consti 
pated,  though  sometimes  purging  exists.  Rumination  is  usually 
disturbed,  and  occasionally  altogether  suspended.  To  these  will 
occasionally  be  added  the  characteristic  symptoms  of  pain  on  pressure 
on  the  edge  of  the  short  ribs  on  the  right  side.  In  acute  inflammation 
of  the  liver,  the  most  frantic  pain  has  been  exhibited ; but  this  is 
rarely  the  case. 

A high  degree  of  fever  will  indicate  the  propriety  of  bleeding,  but 
it  should  not  be  carried  to  too  great  an  extent,  but  may  be  repeated. 
After  bleeding,  one  or  two  drachms  of  calomel,  with  a scruple  of 
opium,  and  two  drachms  of  ginger,  may  be  given  in  gruel,  and  a few 
hours  afterwards  twelve  ounces  of  Epsom  salts  and  half  a pint  of 
linseed  oil.  The  calomel  and  opium  may  be  repeated  twice  a day, 
and  the  purgative  also  until  the  bowels  are  sufficiently  operated  on. 
If,  however,  purging  be  present  from  the  first,  a few  ounces  only  of 
Epsom  salts  should  be  given,  but  a drachm  each  of  calomel  and 
opium  repeated  twice  a day ; and  if  the  purging  continue,  the  case 
may  be  treated  as  one  of  diarrhoea.  The  sides  in  this  disease  should 
be  blistered,  and  setons  may  also  be  inserted. 

Inflammation  of  the  liver  frequently  leaves  after  it  a great  deal  of 
weakness,  and  tonics  are  clearly  indicated.  The  best  medicine  that 
can  be  given  is  the  following : — 

RECIPE  (No.  13). 

Tonic  Drink . — Take  gentian  root,  powdered,  half  an  ounce;  ginger,  powdered,  one 
drachm  ; epsom  salts,  tv/o  ounces.  Mix  the  whole  with  a pint  of  warm  gruel,  and 
give  it  morning  and  night. 

No  hay,  and  little  corn,  should  be  given  in  inflammation  of  the 
liver ; but  the  diet  should  consist  of  mashes  and  green  meat. 

When  a beast  dies  of  this  disease,  all  the  contents  of  the  chest  and 
the  belly  will  often  be  found  to  be  considerably  affected.  The  lungs 
in  almost  every  case  exhibit  inflammation,  and  there  are  patches  of 
inflammation  in  the  bowels. 

It  has  been  stated  that  fat  beasts,  or  such  as  are  in  good  condition, 
are  very  liable  to  this  disease,  and  particularly  those  that  have  been 
fed  much  on  oil-cake.  It  is  more  frequent  in  hot  than  in  cold  wea- 
ther, and  in  store  cattle  that  have  been  over-driven,  or  worried  in 
woodland  pastures  by  the  flies.  Sudden  change  of  weather;  the 
exposure  to  considerable  cold,  of  a well-fed  beast  that  had  been  well 
housed,  or  indeed  anything  that  has  a tendency  to  excite  fever,  will 
produce  inflammation  in  an  organ  that  has  been  over-worked,  or  is 
disposed  to  disease  from  the  undue  secretion  of  bile  in  the  rapid  ac 
cumulation  of  flesh  and  fat.  Chronic  inflammation  of  the  liver  is 
characterized  by  symptoms  similar  but  more  moderate  than  those 
detailed.  The  debility  gradually  increases,  and  death  often  succeeds. 
The  same  treatment  should  be  pursued,  with  the  exception  of  bleed- 
ing. 


48 


THE  YELLOWS,  OR  JAUNDICE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  YELLOWS,  OR  JAUNDICE. 

This  is  a far  more  common  disease  than  the  last,  and  almost  aa 
dangerous,  because,  although  it  is  not  marked  by  any  acute  symp- 
toms, or  accompanied  by  much  fever,  it  creeps  on  insidiously,  and 
fastens  itself  on  the  constitution,  beyond  the  power  of  medicine  to 
eradicate  it;  or  it  is  the  consequence  and  the  proof  of  some  disease 
of  the  liver,  which  is  equally  difficult  to  cure.  It  may  be  produced 
by  inflammation  of  the  liver,  or  too  great  secretion  of  the  bile,  or 
stoppage  of  the  vessels  through  which  the  bile  should  flow  into  the 
bowels.  If  its  passage  is  obstructed,  it  is  thrown  back  again  upon 
the  liver,  and  there  taken  up  by  the  absorbents,  and  carried  into  the 
circulation,  and  communicates  a yellow  colour  to  the  blood  ; and  as 
the  blood,  by  means  of  the  capillary  vessels,  is  carried  to  every  point 
and  part  of  the  body,  so  the  yellow  hue  of  the  disease  spreads  over 
the  whole  of  the  frame. 

This  obstruction  is  sometimes  effected  by  the  undue  thickness 
of  the  bile  ; sometimes  by  hardened  bile  or  gall-stones ; and  in  not 
a few  cases  it  is  caused  by  a greater  secretion  of  bile  than  can  find 
its  way  into  the  intestines,  and  which,  consequently,  accumulates 
in  the  liver,  until  it  is  taken  up  by  the  absorbents,  and  carried  into 
the  frame  in  the  manner  that  has  just  been  described. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  disease  there  is  considerable  dulness 
and  languor,  and  loss  of  appetite.  The  cow  wanders  about  by 
herself,  or  is  seen  standing  by  the  side  of  the  hedge  or  the  fence 
in  a most  dejected  manner.  The  quantity  of  milk  is  generally 
lessened  ; the  bowels  are  costive : and  the  fore-teeth  are  sometimes 
loose:  milch  cows  are  more  subject  to  it  than  oxen,  and  particu- 
larly in  the  latter  end  of  the  year.  Sudden  change  of  weather 
frequently  gives  rise  to  it,  and  especially  if  the  animal  has  pre- 
viously exhibited  symptoms  of  ill  health. 

The  treatment  and  the  hope  of  cure  depend  upon  the  causes  and 
degree  of  the  disease,  and  which  should  be  most  carefully  ascertained. 
If  it  has  followed  symptoms  of  fever,  probably  indicative  of  inflam- 
mation of  the  liver,  it  may  be  difficult  to  remove,  because  it  is  an 
indication  of  the  ravages  which  disease  has  made  in  the  organ. 
Should  the  pulse  be  strong  as  well  as  quick,  moderate  bleeding  wdll 
be  judicious,  but  not  otherwise.  The  bowels  should  then  be  freely 
opened  by  means  of  the  purging  drink  (No.  2,  p.  47),  and  kept  open 
by  half-d'oses  of  it  administered  as  occasion  may  require.  In  this 
disease,  oftener  than  in  any  other  to  which  cattle  are  subject,  sto- 
machics are  useful  to  rouse  the  digestive  organs  to  their  proper  tone 
and  power.  Mingled  with  them,  or  at  other  periods  of  the  day,  medi- 
cines may  be  given  which  are  supposed  to  have  a direct  effect  on  the 


THE  YELLOWS)  OR  JAUNDICE. 


49 


iver,  and  a tendency  to  restore  its  healthy  action ; therefore,  while 
the  tonic  drink  (No.  13,  p.  54)  is  given  in  the  morning,  the  following 
may  be  given  at  night : 

RECIPE  (No.  14). 

Drink  for  the  Yellows. — Take,  of  calomel  and  opium,  a scruple  each : mix  and  sus- 
pend in  a little  thick  gruel. 

If,  on  pressing  the  sides,  the  animal  evinces  pain,  we  may  suspect 
some  inflammation  of  the  liver;  and  a blister  on  the  sides,  but  par- 
ticularly the  right  side,  will  be  useful. 

After  the  yellowness  is  removed,  and  the  beast  restored  to  health, 
the  tonic  drink  (No.  13,  p.  54)  should  be  given  twice  in  the  week  for 
a month.  This  will  contribute  to  restore  the  weakened  appetite,  and 
particularly  will  bring  back  to  the  cow  the  proper  flush  of  milk. 


CHAPTER  X. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

This  is  not  a very  frequent,  but  a most  frightful  disease.  It  is 
commonly  known  by  the  names  pkrenzy  or  sough.  It  is  most  preva- 
lent among  well-fed  cattle,  and  particularly  in  the  summer  months. 
In  the  early  period  of  it  the  beast  is  dull  and  stupid.  He  stands  with 
his  head  protruded,  or  pressed  against  something  for  support.  He 
refuses  to  eat,  ceases  to  ruminate,  and  is,  in  a manner,  unconscious 
of  surrounding  objects.  Now  and  then  he  will  stand  motionless  for 
a long  time,  and  then  suddenly  drop ; he  will  start  up  immediately, 
gaze  around  him  with  an  expression  of  wildness  and  fear,  and  then 
sink  again  into  his  former  lethargy.  All  at  once,  however,  his  eyes 
will  become  red,  and  seemingly  starting  from  their  sockets;  the 
countenance  will  be  both  anxious  and  wild ; the  animal  will  stagger 
about,  falling  and  rising  again,  and  running  unconsciously  against 
everything  in  his  way : at  other  times  he  will  be  conscious  enough 
of  things  around  him,  and  possessed  with  an  irrepressible  desire  to 
do  mischief.  He  will  stamp  with  his  feet,  tear  up  the  ground  with 
his  horns,  run  at  every  one  within  his  reach,  and  with  tenfold  fury  at 
any  red  object;  bellowing  all  the  while  most  tremendously,  and  this 
he  will  continue  until  nature  is  quite  exhausted : a sudden  and  vio- 
lent trembling  will  then  come  over  him,  he  will  grind  his  teeth,  and 
the  saliva  will  pour  from  his  mouth ; he  will  fall,  every  limb  will  be 
convulsed,  and  he  will  presently  die. 

Causes . — It  proceeds  most  commonly  from  a redundancy  of  blood 
in  the  system,  called  by  farmers  an  overflowing  of  the  blood ; and 
this  is  induced  by  cattle  thriving  too  fast  when  turned  on  rich  pas- 
ture-grounds, or  their  being  fed  too  quickly  in  order  to  get  them  into 
condition  for  show  or  sale.  It  is  sometimes  occasioned  by  the  intense 
5 


60 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BRAIlf 


neat  of  the  sun,  when  cattle  have  heen  turned  into  the  fields  where 
there  has  been  nothing  to  shade  them  from  its  influence.  It  may  be 
brought  on  by  severe  contusions  on  the  head,  or  by  the  cattle  being 
ha;assed  and  frightened,  when  driven  along  the  road  or  through  large 
towns. 

Very  few  weeks  pass  in  the  metropolis  in  which  cattle  are  not 
Iriven  into  a state  of  absolute  madness,  either  by  the  brutality  of  the 
Irovers,  or  by  a set  of  miscreants  whose  sport  it  is  to  abuse  and  infu- 
iate  the  animal,  and  endanger  the  lives  of  the  passengers. 

The  chief  or  the  only  cure  is  bleeding.  The  neck  vein  should  be 
)pened,  on  each  side,  if  possible,  and  the  blood  should  be  suffered  to 
flow  until  the  animal  drops.  It  is  absurd  to  talk  of  quantities  here; 
is  much  should  be  taken  as  can  be  got,  or,  at  least,  the  blood  should 
flow  until  the  violence  of  the  symptoms  is  quite  abated. 

To  this  a dose  of  physic  should  follow.  The  following  may  be 
idministered : — 

RECIPE  (No.  15). 

Ji  Strong  Physic  Drink.— Take,  Epsom  or  Glauber’s  salts,  half  a pound ; the  kernel 
if  the  croton  nut,  ten  grains : take  off  the  shell  of  the  croicn  nut,  and  weigh  the  pro- 
per quantity  of  the  kernel.  Rub  it  down  to  a fine  powder;  gradually  mix  it  with 
half  a pint  of  thick  gruel,  and  give  it,  and  immediately  afterwards  give  the  salta, 
dissolved  in  a pint  and  a half  of  thinner  gruel. 

If  the  violence  or  even  the  wandering  should  remain,  another  bleed- 
ing should  take  place  six  hours  afterwards,  and  this  also  until  the 
pulse  falters ; and  the  purging  should  be  kept  up  by  half-doses  of  the 
powder  (No.  2,  p.  47). 

Although  it  is  very  difficult  to  produce  a blister  on  the  thick  skin 
of  the  ox,  it  should  be  attempted  if  the  disease  does  not  speedily  sub- 
side. The  hair  should  be  closely  cut  or  shaved  from  the  upper  part 
of  the  forehead  and  the  poll,  and  for  six  inches  on  each  side  down  the 
neck,  and  some  of  the  following  ointment  well  rubbed  in ; — 

RECIPE  (No.  16). 

Blister  Ointment.— Take,  lard,  twelve  ounces;  resin,  four  ounces;  melt  them  toge- 
ther, and,  when  they  are  getting  cold,  add  oil  of  turpentine,  four  ounces ; and  pow- 
dered cantharides,  five  ounces ; stirring  the  whole  well  together. 

When  the  blister  is  beginning  to  peel  off,  green  elder  or  marsh- 
mallow ointment  will  be  the  best  application  to  supple  and  heal  the 
part.  A little  of  it  should  be  gently  smeared  over  the  blistered  sur- 
face morning  and  night. 

A seton  smeared  with  the  above  ointment  may  be  inserted  on  each 
side  of  the  poll  in  preference  to  the  application  of  a blister. 

Although  the  violence  of  the  disease,  and  of  its  remedies,  will  ne- 
cessarily leave  the  beast  exceedingly  reduced,  no  stimulating  medi- 
cine or  food  must  on  any  account  be  administered.  Mashes  and 
green  meat,  and  these  in  no  great  quantities,  must  suffice  for  nourish- 
ment, or,  if  the  animal,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  is  unable  to  eat,  <x 
few  quarts  of  tolerably  thick  gruel  may  be  horned  down  every  day ; 
but  ale  and  gin,  and  spices,  and  tonic  medicines,  must  be  avoided  as 
downright  poisons.  There  is  not  a more  common  or  a more  fatal 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BRAIN*  51 

error  in  cattle  management  than  the  eagerness  to  pour  in  cpmfortable, 
I would  rather  say,  poisonous  drinks.  Even  the  treacle  and  the 
sugar  in  the  gruel  must  be  prohibited,  from  their  tendency  to  become 
acid  in  the  debilitated  stomach  of  the  animal  recovering  from  such  a 
complaint. 

Every  symptom  of  the  disease  having  vanished,  the  beast  may  very 
slowly  return  to  his  usual  food ; but,  when  he  is  turned  out  to  pasture, 
t will  be  prudent  to  give  him  a very  short  bite  of  grass,  and  little  or 
no  dry  meat.  Nature  is  the  best  restorer  of  health  and  strength  in 
these  cases;  and  it  is  often  surprising,  not  only  how  rapidly  the  ox 
will  regain  all  he  has  lost,  if  left  to  nature,  and  not  foolishly  forced 
on,  but  how  soon  and  to  what  a considerable  degree  his  condition  will 
improve  beyond  the  state  in  which  he  was  before  the  complaint. 

The  ox  that  has  once  had  inflammation  of  the  brain  should  ever 
afterwards  be  watched,  and  should  be  bled  and  physicked  whenever 
there  is  the  least  appearance  of  staggers  or  fever.  The  safest  way 
will  be  to  send  him  to  the  butcher  as  soon  as  he  is  in  sufficient  con- 
dition. 

Sometimes  the  disease  does  not  run  its  full  course.  There  is  but 
a slight  degree  of  inflammation,  or  there  may  be  sudden  determina- 
tion or  flow  of  blood  to  the  head  from  some  occasional  cause,  and 
without  inflammation.  This  is  known  by  the  name  of 

STAGGERS,  OR  SWIMMING  IN  THE  HEAD. 

The  symptoms  are  heaviness  and  dulness ; a constant  disposition 
to  sleep,  which  is  manifested  by  the  beast  resting  its  head  upon  any 
convenient  place;  and  he  reels  or  staggers  when  he  attempts  to  walk. 
If  this  disease  is  not  checked  by  bleeding,  purging,  and  proper  ma- 
nagement, it  will  probably  terminate  in  inflammation  of  the  brain  or 
inflammatory  fever. 

It  mostly  attacks,  those  cattle  that  have  been  kept  in  a state  o. 
poverty  and  starvation  during  the  winter  season,  and  in  the  spring 
of  the  year  have  been  admitted  into  too  fertile  a pasture : hence  is 
produced  a redundancy  of  blood  in  the  system,  which,  on  the  slight- 
est disturbance,  or  even  naturally,  gives  rise  to  the  disease. 

The  cure  must  be  attempted  by  taking  four,  five,  or  six  quarts  of 
blood  from  the  animal,  according  to  its  size  and  strength;  the  purg- 
ing drink  (No.  15,  p.  57)  must  then  be  administered,  and  (No.  2, 
p.  47)  continued  in  half-doses  every  eight  hours,  until  the  full  purga- 
tive effect  is  produced.  If  the  animal  is  not  relieved  in  the  course  of 
two  hours  from  the  first  bleeding,  the  operation  must  be  repeated  to 
the  same  extent,  unless  the  beast  should  become  faint;  and  the  bow- 
els must  be  kept  in  a loose  or  rather  purging  state  by  No.  2.  As 
soon  as  the  bowels  are  opened,  the  fever  drink  (No.  1,  p.  46)  should 
be  given  morning,  noon,  and  night,  until  the  patient  is  well.  Nothing 
more  than  a very  little  mash  should  be  allowed,  and  all  cordials  should 
be  avoided  as  absolutdy  destructive  to  the  beast. 


52  INFLAMM  ATIO  OF  THE  BOWELS. 


When  the  animal  appears  to  be  doing  well,  he  must  very  slowly 
be  permitted  to  return  to  his  usual  food.  He  should  for  some  weeks 
be  put  into  short  and  scanty  pasture;  the  seton  should  be  continued 
in  the  dewlap,  and  occasional  doses  of  Epsom  salts  administered. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS,  WITH  COSTIVENESS. 

Inflammation  of  the  bowels  is  by  no  means  an  uncommon  disease 
among  neat  cattle,  and  frequently  proves  fatal  to  them  from  injudi- 
cious treatment.  It  is  a complaint  easily  recognisable  on  account  of 
the  peculiar  symptoms  by  which  it  is  attended. 

The  animal  is  continually  lying  down  and  getting  up  again  imme- 
diately, and,  when  up,  he  strikes  at  his  belly  with  the  hind  feet. 
The  bowels  are  obstinately  constipated  : the  dung,  if  any  is  voided, 
is  in  small  quantities — hard,  covered  with  mucus,  and  that  sometimes 
streaked  with  blood — and  the  urine  is  generally  voided  with  difficulty. 
The  pulse  is  quicker  than  natural,  and  there  is  much  heaving  at  the 
flanks. 

It  is  distinguished  from  colic  by  the  great  degree  of  fever  that  evi- 
dently attends  it,  the  muzzle  being  dry  and  the  mouth  hot.  The 
animal  becomes  speedily  weak,  he  falls  or  throws  himself  down  sud- 
denly, and  when  he  rises  he  does  it  with  difficulty,  and  he  staggers 
as  he  walks.  The  lowness  and  weakness  appear  more  speedily  and 
decidedly  than  in  almost  any  other  disease. 

The  attack  is  sudden  like  that  of  colic.  The  animal  quits  his 
companions,  and  hides  himself  under  the  hedge.  If  he  is  in  the 
plough,  he  all  at  once  becomes  deaf  to  the  voice  of  the  driver,  and 
insensible  to  the  goad.  He  trembles  all  over— his  skin  becomes  hot 
— his  back  and  loins  are  tender — his  ears  and  horns  hot.  Everything 
indicates  the  highest  degree  of  local  inflammation  and  general  fever. 

The  disease  mostly  arises  from  sudden  exposure  to  cold  ; and  espe- 
cially when  cattle  go  into  rivers  or  ponds  after  being  heated  and 
fatigued.  It  is  sometimes  produced  by  change  of  pasture,  and  feed- 
ing too  much  on  dry  and  stimulating  diet. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done,  and  that  which  admits  of  no  delay,  is  to 
bleed ; from  six  to  eight  quarts  of  blood  at  least  should  be  taken 
away.  Immediately  afterwards  the  purging  drink  (No.  15,  p.  57) 
should  be  administered,  and  its  effect  promoted  by  half-doses  of 
No.  2,  given  every  six  hours.  This  is  a very  dangerous  disease,  and 
the  measures  pursued  must  be  of  the  most  decisive  kind.  The  symp- 
toms succeed  each  other  rapidly,  and  if  one  day  is  suffered  to  pass 
without  proper  means  being  taken,  the  beast  is  irrecoverably  lost. 

The  third  stomach  or  manyplus  will  generally  be  found,  after 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS. 


55 


death,  choked  up  with  dry  food,  hardened  between  the  leaves  o! 
which  that  stomach  is  composed.  It  will  be  necessary  to  wash  this 
well  out  before  the  propter  path  to  the  fourth  stomach  can  be  opened. 
In  order  to  effect  this,  plenty  of  thin  gruel,  or  water  with  the  chill 
taken  off,  should  be  given ; or,  if  the  beast  will  not  drink  it,  several 
quarts  of  it  should  be  horned  down.  Clysters  of  warm  water,  or  thin 
gruel,  with  a purging  powder  dissolved  in  them,  should  likewise  be 
administered. 

After  having  bled  the  animal  once  copiously,  and,  if  the  fever  has 
not  subsided,  a second,  or  even  a third  time,  the  farmer  should  in 
nis  disease  of  high  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  and  strangly  obsti- 
nate costiveness,  found  his  only  hope  of  saving  the  animal  in  pro- 
ducing purging,  and  to  this  purpose  his  whole  attention  should  be 
directed. 

If  it  should  not  be  accomplished  after  the  third  dose  of  the  medi- 
cine, a pound  of  common  salt  may  be  given.  The  water  or  other 
liquid  which  the  beast  will  probably  be  induced  to  drink  will  assist 
in  purging  him.  Should  not  this  succeed,  a pound  and  a half  of 
castor-oil  must  be  administered. 

The  patience  of  the  attendants  will  sometimes  be  almost  worn  out 
— they  must,  however,  persist.  Clysters,  numerous,  and  great  in 
quantity,  must  be  administered.  The  Epsom  salts  and  the  castor-oil 
will  not  do  harm  in  whatever  quantities  they  are  given : it  will  not 
be  prudent,  however,  to  repeat  the  common  salt.  During  the  whole 
of  this  time  the  cordial  drink  of  the  cow-leech  must  be  avoided  as  a 
dose  of  poison. 

The  farmer  or  the  attendant  must  not  be  deceived  by  the  passage 
of  a little  liquid  dung  in  a small  stream,  for  that  shows  that  there  is 
yet  much  hardened  faeces  clinging  round  the  intestines,  and  which 
must  be  removed,  and  therefore  he  must  pursue  the  measures  recom- 
mended until  the  dung  is  expelled  in  considerable  quantities,  and  in 
a large  full  stream,  and  without  much  straining.  There  has  gene- 
rally been  something  more  than  usually  wrong  in  the  food  or  manage- 
ment when  this  sad  constipation  is  observed.  Either  the  animal  has 
been  kept  too  much  and  too  long  on  dry  food ; or  he  has  been  turned 
into  fresh  pasture  (and  particularly  in  the  autumn)  in  which  there  are 
oak-trees  or  some  astringent  vegetables.  The  cause  must  De  removed, 
or  the  disease  wTill  return. 

The  state  of  the  bowels  of  a beast  that  has  once  been  sapped  should 
be  observed  for  some  time  afterwards,  and  gentle  aperients  occasion- 
ally administered ; cold  water  should  not,  for  a little  while,  be  per- 
mitted, and  strict  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  diet. 

Inflammation  of  the  bowels,  however,  will  in  a few  cases  occur 
without  all  this  costiveness,  and  yet  produced  by  nearly  the  same 
causes.  The  other  symptoms  are  the  same,  but  the  danger  is  not  so 
gieat.  The  beast  should  be  bled  and  physicked,  kept  moderately 
warm  and  have  warm  water  with  bran  mashes. 

5* 


64 


DI  RRHGBA,  OR  PURGING 


CHAPTER  XII. 

DIARRHCEA,  OR  PURGING. 

Purging  is  produced  by  various  causes ; by  change  of  food,  from 
ary  to  green  meat,  or  from  short  to  luxuriant  pasture ; by  poisonous 
plants,  bad  water,  or  unknown  atmospheric  agency. 

It  is  not  always  to  be  regarded  as  a disease,  nor  should  the  farmer 
be  always  anxious  to  stop  it.  It  may  be  an  effort  of  nature  to  dis- 
charge something  that  is  injurious;  it  may  exist  while  the  beast 
enjoys  almost  perfect  health,  and  is  even  thriving. 

The  farmer  will  not  regard  an  occasional  fit  of  purging ; he  will 
only  attack  it  if  it  is  violent,  or  if  it  continues  too  long.  In  the  first 
case  it  indicates  some  disordered  state  of  the  bowels,  or  the  presence 
of  some  offending  matter  in  them,  and  he  will  endeavour  to  remedy 
this ; not,  as  is  too  often  done,  by  attempting  to  arrest  the  discharge 
as  speedily  as  he  can — not  by  the  exhibition  of  astringent  medicine 
— but  by  giving  a mild  dose  of  physic,  in  order  to  assist  nature  in 
her  effort  to  get  rid  of  some  evil.  Nothing  so  much  distinguishes 
the  man  of  good  sense  from  the  mere  blunderer  as  the  treatment  of 
purging. 

From  half  to  three-quarters  of  a pound  of  Epsom  salts  should  be 
given  with  the  usual  quantity  of  ginger.  The  next  day  he  may  pro 
bably  administer  a little  astringent  medicine.  The  following  will  be 
effectual,  and  not  too  powerful : — 

RECIPE  (No.  17). 

Astringent  Drink,— Take  prepared  chalk,  two  ounces ; oak  bark,  powdered,  one 
ounce;  catechu,  powdered,  half  an  ounce;  opium,  powdered,  two  scruples;  ginger, 
powdered,  two  drachms.  Mix,  and  give  in  a quart  of  warm  gruel. 

In  the  second  case  a.so,  when  purging  has  long  continued,  and 
the  animal  is  beginning  to  become  thin  and  weak,  the  practitioner 
must  begin  with  physic.  There  is  probably  some  lurking  cause  of 
intestinal  irritation.  He  should  give  the  quantity  of  Epsom  salts  just 
recommended — »or  perhaps  he  will  more  prudently  give  from  half  a 
pint  to  a pint  of  castor-oil.  It  will  usually  be  a good  practice  to  give 
a rather  smaller  dose  on  the  following  day;  and,  after  that,  he  may 
safely  have  recourse  to  the  astringents : the  animal  should  be  brought 
into  a cow-house  or  enclosed  yard,  where  it  can  be  sheltered  from  the 
weather,  and  kept  partly  or  altogether  on  dry  meat. 

It  is  of  great  consequence  that  diarrhoea  or  simple  purging  should 
be  distinguished  from  another  disease  with  which  it  is  too  often  con- 
founded. They  are  both  characterized  by  purging.  That  which  has 
been  just  considered  is  the  discharge  of  dung  in  too  great  quantity, 
and  in  too  fluid  a form  ; but  that  which  will  form  the  subject  of  the 
next  chapter,  dysentery,  is  the  evacuation  of  the  dung,  mingled  with 
mucus,  or  mucus  and  blood.  In  diarrhoea  the  dung  is  voided  in  large 


DIARRHOEA  OR  PURG.NQ. 


55 


quantities,  and  in  a full  stream  it  has  sometimes  an  offensive  smell, 
and  is  occasionally  bloody  : but  dysentery  is  often  accompanied  by  a 
peculiar  straining ; the  dung  is  not  so  great  in  quantity,  and  it  is 
more  offensive,  and  more  highly  charged  with  blood. 

The  one  is  an  accidental  thing — not  always  to  be  considered  as  a 
disease  — and  often  ceasing  of  itself  when  the  purpose  for  which  na- 
ture set  it  up,  — the  expulsion  of  some  acrid  or  injurious  matter  from 
the  alimentary  canal,  — has  been  accomplished;  the  other  is  an  indi- 
cation of  an  inflammatory  affection  of  the  larger  intestines,  difficult 
to  be  controlled,  often  bidding  defiance  to  all  means,  and  speedily 
destroying  the  animal.  Diarrhoea  occurs  at  all  times  of  the  year,  and 
particularly  after  a sudden  and  great  change  of  pasture ; dysentery  is 
a disease  almost  peculiar  to  the  spring  and  autumn  alone.  It  must 
be  confessed,  however,  that  diarrhoea  is  sometimes  the  precursor  of 
dysentery  in  its  worst  form. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

DYSENTERY,  SLIMY  FLUX,  OR  SCOURING  ROT. 

It  has  been  just  observed  that  this  disease  is  most  prevalent  in  the 
spring  and  autumn,  particularly  in  low,  wet,  and  swampy  situations. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  fatal  diseases  to  which  oxen,  and  dairy  cows  in 
particular,  are  subject,  and  destroys  more  than  any  other  malady. 

It  begins  with  frequent  and  painful  efforts  to  expel  the  dung,  which 
is  thin,  slimy,  stinking,  and  olive-coloured.  The  animal,  as  appears 
from  his  restless  state,  suffers  much  pain,  frequently  lying  down  and 
soon  rising  again.  There  is  also  a frequent  rumbling  noise  in  the 
intestines.  If  the  disease  is  neglected,  or  improperly  treated,  the 
beast  gradually  gets  thin,  although  for  a while  he  retains  his  appetite 
and  continues  to  ruminate ; at  length  he  evidently  begins  to  get  weak, 
rumination  is  imperfectly  performed,  and  the  food  passes  from  him 
half  digested.  As  this  disease  is  often  the  consequence  of  a previous 
affection  of  the  liver,  considerable  tenderness  wiH  be  discovered  on 
the  spine,  a little  beyond  the  shoulders.  This  is  one  of  the  methods, 
and  a very  good  one,  by  which  the  farmer  endeavours  to  ascertain 
whether  a beast  which  he  is  thinking  of  purchasing  has  the  scouring 
rot.  As  the  disease  proceeds,  the  dewlap  hangs  down  and  has  a 
flabby  appearance ; the  dung  runs  off  with  a putrid  and  offensive 
smell,  and,  as  it  falls  upon  the  ground,  rises  up  in  bubbles,  and  a 
membranous  or  skinny-like  substance  is  often  seen  upon  it : this  is 
occasioned  by  the  natural  mucus,  which  was  given  to  defend  the 
Dowels,  being  discharged.  In  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  mucus 
that  mingles  with  the  faeces,  the  whole  is  rendered  more  adhesive, 
and  the  bubb.es  are  larger,  and  remain  longer  on  the  dung.  When 
this  is  the  case  the  disease  is  always  obstinate,  ahd  generally  fetal. 


56 


DYSENTERY  &C. 


The  hair  all  over  the  body  soon  appears  pen-feathered  01  staling. 
Feverish  symptoms  also  accompany  the  complaint:  the  eyes  become 
dull  and  inflamed,  there  is  much  working  of  the  flanks,  and  the  pulse 
•s  quick. 

The  causes  of  this  dreadful  malady  are  — taking  cold  at  the  time 
of  calving;  long  journeys;  exposure  to  sudden  vicissitudes  of  the 
weather;  and,  after  being  over-heated  in  travelling,  being  turned  into 
damp  pastures,  &c.  Poor  keep  is  a very  frequent  cause,  and  espe- 
cially when  connected  with  exhaustion  from  constant  milking;  and 
it  is  more  especially  the  consequence  of  the  cows  being  badly  fed  in 
the  winter.  Some  cold  wet  lands  are  particularly  liable  to  give  the 
rot;  yet  where  the  land  and  treatment  are  similar  it  prevails  more  in 
some  dairies  than  in  others,  depending  much  on  the  breed  of  the 
cattle.  Old  cows  that  are  fed  on  sanded  pastures  are  very  subject  to 
this  complaint. 

In  all  cases  the  animals  should  be  taken  from  grass,  and  put  into  a 
large  cow-house,  or  an  open  yard,  where  they  can  be  sheltered  from 
the  weather,  and  kept  on  dry  food,  such  as  good  hay,  ground  oats, 
barley,  and  beans.  An  equal  proportion  of  each  of  the  three  last 
articles  and  of  linseed  cake  will  make  an  excellent  food  for  cattle 
labouring  under  dysentery.  A quantity  proportionate  to  the  size  and 
appetite  of  the  patients  should  be  given  two  or  three  times  a day,  or 
if  they  are  much  reduced  and  their  appetite  is  quite  gone,  a thick 
gruel  should  be  made  of  these  ingredients,  and  administered  three  or 
four  times  a day. 

This  disease  consists  in  inflammation  of  the  lining  membrane  of 
the  large  intestines.  It  will  then  be  evident  that  bleeding,  propor- 
tioned to  the  suddenness  and  violence  of  the  attack,  and  the  apparent 
degree  of  fever,  should  be  first  resorted  to. 

If  the  eyes  are  inflamed,  with  heaving  of  the  flanks,  and  painful 
rwitchings  of  the  belly,  accompanied  by  severe  straining  and  appa- 
rent gripings  in  the  expulsion  of  the  excrement,  the  abstraction  of 
blood  is  indispensable. 

The  purgative  drink  (No.  2,  p.  47)  should  precede  the  use  of  every 
other  medicine,  in  whatever  state  the  bowels  may  be.  It  will  prepare 
for  the  safer  use  of  astringents.  In  almost  every  case  there  will  be 
something  in  the  bowels,  which,  if  it  did  not  cause  the  disease,  con- 
tributes to  keep  it  up.  The  proprietor  of  cattle,  and  he  who  professes 
to  treat  their  diseases,  should  know  that  there  can  be  nothing  more 
dangerous  than  to  attempt  suddenly  to  stop  a violent  purging,  espe- 
cially one  that  assumes  the  character  of  dysentery.  Let  that  which 
offends  in  the  bowels  be  first  got  rid  of,  and  the  disease  will  some- 
times cease  of  itself,  or,  if  it  does  not,  astringents  may  then  be  admi- 
nistered with  safety. 

The  safest  and  the  most  effectual  astringent  mixture  for  the  scour- 
ing rot  is  that  which  was  recommended  in  page  61.  It  may  be  given 
once  or  twice  in  the  day,  according  to  the  violence  of  the  complaint 

Ale  should  never  be  given  in  these  cases.  The  astringents  may  be 


DYSFNTERY,  &C,  51 

commenced  twenty-four  hears  after  the  purgative  has  been  adminis- 
tered. 

If  the  disease  does  not  speedily  yield  to  this  treatment,  it  will  not 
be  prudent  to  continue  the  use  of  such  large  quantities  of  astringent 
medicines  for  any  considerable  time.  The  following  drink  may  then 
De  given,  and  continued  morning  and  night  for  five  or  six  days 
RECIPE  (No.  18). 

.Astringent  Drink  with  Mutton  Suet.— Take  mutton  suet,  one  pound ; new  milk,  two 
quarts;  boil  them  together  until  the  suet  is  dissolved;  then  add  opium,  powdered, 
half  a drachm;  ginger,  one  drachm,  having  previously  well  mixed  them  with  ft 
spoonful  or  two  of  fluid. 

When  the  dysentery  is  stopped,  the  beast  should  very  slowly  and 
cautiously  be  permitted  to  return  to  his  former  green  food.  Either 
during  the  night  or  the  day,  according  to  the  season  of  the  year,  he 
should  be  confined  in  the  cow-house,  and  turned  out  twelve  hours 
only  out  of  the  twenty-four.  Water  should  be  placed  within  reach 
of  the  animal,  in  the  cow-house,  and,  if  possible,  in  the  field;  for 
there  are  few  things  more  likely  to  bring  on  this  disease,  or  more 
certain  to  aggravate  it,  than  the  drinking  of  an  inordinate  quantity  of 
water  after  long-continued  thirst. 

These  precautionary  measures  should  be  continued  for  a considera- 
ble time ; for  there  is  something  very  treacherous  in  this  malady,  and 
it  will  often  suddenly  return  several  weeks  after  it  has  been  appa- 
rently subdued. 

In  those  cases,  and  they  are  much  too  numerous,  which  totally 
resist  the  influence  of  the  medicines  already  recommended,  other 
means  should  be  tried.  The  alum  whey  has  sometimes  succeeded, 
and  is  thus  prepared : — 

RECIPE  (No.  19). 

Alum  Whey. — Take  alum,  half  an  ounce;  milk,  two  quarts.  Boil  them  together 
for  ten  minutes,  and  strain. 

This  may  be  administered  twice  every  day. 

The  disease  may  not  yield  even  to  this.  It  will  then  be  evident 
that  it  is  the  consequence  of  some  other  disease,  and,  probably,  of  the 
liver,  the  vitiated  bile  secreted  by  which  is  keeping  up  the  purging. 
It  is  almost  a forlorn  hope  to  attack  such  a case ; but  the  beast  may 
be  valuable,  and,  at  all  events,  we  cannot  be  worse  off.  The  only 
medicine  that  can  have  power  here  is  mercury,  for  it  seems  to  exert 
its  chief  influence  on  the  liver  and  the  discharge  cf  bile.  The  mildest, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  most  effectual,  form  in  which  it  can  be  ad- 
ministered, is  that  of  the  blue  pill,  half  a scruple  of  which  may  be 
given  morning  and  night,  rubbed  down  with  a little  thick  gruel. 
There  is  very  little  danger  of  salivation:  yet  it  maybe  prudent  to 
give  half  a pound  of  Epsom  salts  every  fifth  or  sixth  day ; and  most 
certainly  to  give  them  every  second  day,  and  discontinue  the  Hue 
pill,  if  the  mouth  should  become  sore,  or  the  breath  stinking,  or  there 
should  be  a more  than  usual  discharge  of  saliva  from  the  mouth. 

In  many  cases  there  is  found  a schirrous  state  of  the  third  and  fourth 
stomachs  in  cattle  that  have  died  of,  or  been  destroyed  for,  this  disease. 


RED-WATER. 


58 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

RED-WATER. 

The  nature  of  this  disease  has  been  very  much  misunderstood.  It 
consists  of  a discharge  of  high-coloured  urine,  and  therefore  has  been 
attributed  to  an  inflammatory  affection  of  the  kidneys.  It  will  gene- 
rally be  found  to  begin  in  another  organ,  the  liver,  and  to  be  connect- 
ed, in  the  first  stage  at  least,  far  more  with  disease  of  that  gland  than 
of  the  kidney. 

There  are  evidently  two  distinct  species  of  red-water. 

One,  hut  which  occurs  most'  seldom,  begins  with  decided  symp- 
toms of  fever.  There  is  shivering,  succeeded  by  increased  heat  of  the 
body ; the  muzzle  dry ; working  of  the  flanks ; urine  of  a red  colour, 
evidently  tinged  with  blood,  and  occasionally  consisting  almost  en- 
tirely of  blood,  discharged  in  small  quantities,  and  frequently  with 
considerable  pain ; loss  of  appetite.  As  the  disease  proceeds,  the 
animal  loses  strength ; the  bowels  become  constipated  or  very  loose; 
and  the  urine  of  a dark  colour,  approaching  to  black. 

Very  early  in  the  complaint  the  loins  become  exceedingly  tender, 
and  the  animal  shrinks  when  they  are  pressed  upon ; some  heat  is 
likewise  felt  there,  showing  evidently  the  seat  and  nature  of  the  dis- 
ease. It  sometimes  proceeds  from  cold,  particularly  when  beasts  are 
turned  into  low  pasture  grounds  at  the  spring  of  the  year.  It  also 
frequently  seizes  young  cattle  that  are  feeding,  or  in  good  condition ; 
for  a fulness  of  blood  in  the  system  renders  them  more  liable  to  the 
complaint. 

Sometimes  inflammation  of  the  kidneys  proceeds  from  external 
injuries ; such  as  a violent  bruise  across  the  loins,  in  consequence  of 
other  beasts  ramping  on  them,  or  a severe  blow  in  the  region  of  the 
kidneys. 

The  discharge  of  bloody  urine  may  either  proceed  from  inflamma- 
tion of  the  kidneys  or  a rupture  of  some  of  the  blood-vessels,  and  in 
either  case  blood  is  discharged  with  the  urine,  and  may  be  often  de- 
tected in  clots ; whilst  in  the  other  kind  of  red-water,  although  the 
urine  is  dark  in  colour,  it  does  not  contain  blood.  The  former  disease 
is  more  frequent  with  bulls  and  oxen,  and  the  latter  with  milch  cows. 

When  the  kidneys  are  inflamed,  and  the  animal  evinces  tenderness 
on  pressing  the  loins,  the  treatment  should  consist  of  blood-letting, 
purging,  and  the  application  of  sheep-skins  and  stimulants  to  the 
loins.  But  in  some  cases  where  blood  is  discharged  with  the  urine 
without  any  inflammatory  appearances,  the  exhibition  of  astringents 
and  stimulants,  such  as  the  following,  have  effected  a cure: — 

RECIPE  (No.  20). 

Take  oil  of  Juniper,  two  to  four  drachms ; tincture  of  opium,  one  ounce;  oil  o 
turpentine,  one  ounce.  Mix,  and  give  in  a pint  of  linseed  tea,  once  or  twice  a day 


RED- WATER . 


69 


True  red-water  is  a disease  of  the  digestive  organs,  principally  of 
the  liver ; and  the  dark  colour  of  the  urine  is  owing  to  the  presence 
of  vitiated  bile,  probably  loaded  with  carbon,  and  not  to  blood,  as 
used  to  be  supposed. 

The  more  frequent  causes  are  connected  with  the  nature  of  the 
pasture.  There  are  some  farms,  or  particular  parts  of  the  farm,  where 
red-water  is  almost  sure  to  follow  when  cattle  are  turned  upon  them. 
Low  marshy  grounds  are  apt  to  produce  it,  and  also  pastures  with 
'much  woodland,  and  especially  in  the  latter  part  of  autumn,  when 
the  leaves  are  falling.  Some  have  said  that  elm-leaves  are  apt  to 
cause  red-water ; others  attribute  the  disease  to  the  oak ; and  many 
more  to  some  of  the  numerous  species  of  ranunculuses  that  abound  in 
our  marshy  and  woodland  pastures.  The  truth  of  the  matter,  how- 
ever, is,  that  no  one  knows  what  plant  is  most  concerned  in  the  affair; 
and  all  that  the  farmer  can  do  is  to  observe  what  pastures  most  fre- 
quently produce  red-water,  and  at  what  season  of  the  year  and  to 
use  them  as  much  as  he  can  for  other  stock  in  the  dangerous  seasons. 

A removal  from  a poor  to  a luxuriant  pasture,  or  from  a low  marshy 
situation  to  a dry  and  lofty  locality,  are  frequent  causes  of  red-water; 
and  it  often  occurs  after  a long  succession  of  dry  weather. 

Cows  that  are  dried  of  their  milk  are  often  attacked  by  it,  when 
put  into  luxurious  pasture,  while,  perhaps,  it  does  not  affect  those 
that  are  still  milked.  The  reason  of  this  is  plain  enough : — the  super 
fluous  nutriment  not  being  carried  off  by  the  udder  in  the  form  of  milk, 
the  digestive  organs  are  deranged,  and  the  secretions  of  the  ver  be- 
come vitiated. 

Some  breeds  of  cows  are  more  disposed  to  red-water  than  others, 
and  especially  if  they  are  brought  from  a distance,  and  the  quality  of 
their  pasture  materially  changed,  whether  from  good  to  bad,  or  from 
bad  to  good.  A cow  that  has  once  had  an  attack  of  red-water  is  very 
liable  to  a repetition  of  the  complaint.  The  farmer  is  obliged  to  take 
a great  deal  of  care  properly  to  manage  the  change  of  pasture  with 
her,  and,  notwithstanding  all  his  care,  she  will  probably  have  two  or 
three  attacks  of  the  disease  every  year.  It  will  behove  him  to  consider 
how  far  it  is  prudent  to  keep  such  an  animal.  No  beast  that  is  sub- 
ject to  periodical  complaints  of  any  kind  should  be  kept,  for  it  may 
easily  be  prepared  for  the  butcher,  and  disposed  of  with  little  or  no 
loss  to  the  farmer. 

The  symptoms  of  red-water  are  at  first  purging,  which  is  usually 
followed  by  constipation ; the  appetite  is  impaired ; the  pulse  and 
breathing  quickened  ; and  the  former,  though  bounding  at  the  heart, 
is  often  weak.  The  membranes  of  the  nostrils  and  eyelids  are  pale, 
and  the  legs  cold ; the  milk  is  diminished,  and  rumination  ceases. 
The  urine,  from  being  brown,  often  becomes  black,  and  the  disease 
is,  in  this  state,  often  denominated  black-water. 

The  red  and  the  black  water  are  diseases  that  require  prompt  and 
careful  treatment;  for,  although,  in  some  slight  cases,  the  beast  does 
not  seem  to  be  much  affected  by  either,  and  works  or  yields  her  milk 


60 


RED- WATER 


as  well  as  ever,  yet  ere  long  it  preys  upon  the  constitution,  and  the 
animal  gradually  wastes  away. 

It  is  folly  to  wait  in  order  to  see  whether  nature  will  effect  a cure. 
Except  in  beasts  suddenly  put  upon  more  than  usually  rich  pasturage, 
;t  never  is  or  can  be  a salutary  discharge.  It  must  be  preying  upon 
the  system  and  wasting  the  strength,  and  the  sooner  it  is  got  rid  of 
the  better.  It  attacks  milch  c.ows  oftener  than  others,  and  it  is  more 
injurious  to  them  than  to  others.  While  it  lasts,  it  often  materially 
.essens  the  quantity  of  milk,  and,  even  after  it  is  removed,  the  animal 
s slow  in  returning  to  her  former  strength. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  remove  the  cause  of  the  disease. 
The  pasture  should  be  changed.  A more  open  and  a drier  situation 
should  be  found,  and  where  the  grass,  although  succulent  and  nutri- 
tious, is  not  very  plentiful.  If  there  is  considerable  fever,  or  the 
animal  should  appear  to  be  really  ill  from  the  discharge,  she  should 
*je  taken  under  shelter,  and  fed  on  mashes,  with  a very  little  hay ; or 
a few  turnips  or  carrots  may  be  allowed  her  if  they  are  in  season. 

Bleeding  is  often  necessary  at  the  onset  of  this  disease,  but  it 
should  always  be  practised  with  moderation,  and  in  many  cases  ab- 
stained from  altogether.  About  two  hours  after  bleeding,  the  follow- 
ing drink  should  be  administered  : — 

RECIPE  (No.  21). 

Takeepsom,  or  glauber  salts,  one  pound  ; ginger,  half  an  ounce;  carbonate  of  am- 
monia, half  an  ounce.  Pour  one  quart  of  boiling  water  upon  the  ingredients,  stir 
hem  well,  and  give  when  new-milk  warm. 

A quarter  part  of  this  drink  may  be  given  every  six  hours,  until  the 
Dowels  are  freely  opened,  and  the  medicine  may  be  assisted  by  clys- 
ters. The  successful  treatment  of  the  disease  very  much,  or  altoge- 
ther, depends  on  early  and  thoroughly  opening  the  bowels.  If  this 
is  early  accomplished,  the  animal  will  almost  certainly  recover.  If  it 
is  neglected,  or  the  constipation  cannot  be  overcome  within  the  first 
two  or  three  days,  the  termination  will  probably  be  fatal. 

When  the  bowels  are  properly  acted  on,  mild  stimulants  may  be 
exhibited,  such  as — 

RECIPE  (No.  22). 

Take  ginger,  one  drachm  ; gentian,  one  drachm  ; and  spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  one 
ounce.  Mix,  and  give  in  a pint  of  gruel. 

If,  with  the  amendment  of  the  other  symptoms,  the  urine  sho 
appear  black,  a diuretic, — such  as  one  ounce  of  nitre, — may  be  giv* 
with  the  above  drink,  or  even  the  more  powerful  stimulant,  spirit  oi 
turpentine,  in  doses  of  one  or  two  ounces. 

If,  after  the  bowels  have  been  well  opened,  and  the  fever  is  some- 
what abated,  the  discharge  of  blood  still  continues,  and  in  as  great  a 
quantity  as  before,  it  will  be  right  to  have  recourse  to  astringents,  yet 
such  as  will  not  irritate  an:  stimulate  the  kidneys;  and  even  these 
should  be  administered  cautiously.  Constipation  attended  the  early 
and  most  violent  stage  of  the  disease — some  remission,  at  least  in  the 


RED-WATER. 


61 


fever  and  the  pain,  if  not  much  diminution  of  discharge,  attended  the 
removal  of  the  constipation : it  must,  therefore,  be  dangerous  to  con- 
fine the  bowels  again.  The  following  prescription  will  be  as  effica- 
cious as  any 

RECIPE  (No.  23.) 

Take,  oak  bark,  powdered,  half  an  ounce;  powdered  catechu,  two  drams;  and 
opium,  powdered,  half  a scruple : mix  together  in  a pint  of  gruel  or  warm  water. 

This  may  be  given  morning  and  night,  for  a week,  cautiously 
watching  the  state  of  the  bowels,  and  suspending  the  astringent,  and 
even  having  recourse  to  physic,  if  the  bowels  should  again  be  con- 
fined. 

The  recovery  of  the  animal  is  denoted  by  the  restoration  of  the 
pulse  and  breathing  to  the  natural  standard,  and  the  return  of  the 
appetite,  together  with  the  healthy  appearance  of  the  urine.  It  is 
essential,  however,  to  exercise  the  greatest  caution  with  regard  to 
the  food  for  some  little  time,  bearing  in  mind  that  the  digestive 
organs  have  been  greatly  impaired.* 


CHAPTER  XV. 

GARGET,  OR  THE  DOWNFALL  IN  THE  UDDER  OF  COWS. 

This  is  a disease  of  the  utmost  consequence  to  the  owners  of  neat 
cattle.  Young  cows  in  high  condition  are  most  liable  to  it,  espe- 
cially at  the  time  of  calving.  Such  as  are  aged  are  chiefly  subject  to 
it  during  hot  and  sultry  weather,  particularly  those  which  are  fattened 
for  the  shambles ; when  this  is  the  case,  the  loss  is  considerable,  for 
a summer’s  keep  is  generally  thrown  away. 

This  disorder  makes  its  appearance  in  one  or  more  quarters  of  the 
udder,  which  become  swollen,  hard,  hotter  than  usual,  and  painful 
when  pressed.  If  the  patient  is  a milch-cow,  the  secretion  of  milk  is 

* [Red  Water. — Charles  Waistell,  in  the  London  Farmers’  Journal,  says:  For  a full- 
grown  cow  dissolve  two  pounds  Epsom  salts  in  two  or  three  pints  of  boiling  water, 
and  give  it  when  new  milk  warm;  then  keep  her  six  or  eight  hours  without  food. 
If  then  the  salts  should  not  have  operated,  give  four  or  five  quarts  warm  water,  and 
drive  her  about  gently ; in  a quarter  of  an  hour  it  will  operate;  then  give  her  as 
much  warm  water  as  she  will  drink,  and  turn  her  out  to  graze,  if  the  weather  be 
dry.  “ My  brother,  J.  Waistell,  of  West  Park,  has  used  the  above  remedy  for  up- 
wards of  thirty  years,  and  has  not  in  all  that  time  lost  one  beast  by  the  red  water. 
Before  he  commenced  using  it,  he  almost  invariably  lost  cattle  annually  by  that  dis- 
ease. His  cattle  were  less  frequently  afflicted  than  formerly,  which  he  attributes  to 
his  having  underdrained  a great  part  of  his  farm,  which  was  wet  and  boggy.  The 
remedy  was  communicated  to  him  by  a relation,  Mr.  Kendall,  a cow-keeper,  who  fot 
many  years  kept  many  cows,  and  occupied  part  of  Mary-le-bone  Park,  at  London.” 

6 5 8.1 


GARGET. 


6$ 

lessened,  tnd  mingled  with  blood,  pus,  and  corruption.  At  other  time* 
the  flow  of  milk  is  totally  stopped,  and  the  tumefied  quarter  proceeds 
to  a state  of  suppuration.  It  not  unfrequently  happens  that  the  hind 
extremities,  at  the  same  time,  become  swollen  and  inflamed,  espe- 
cially about  the  hip  joint,  hock,  and  fetlock,  which  disables  the  ani- 
mal from  getting  up,  almost  from  moving. 

It  is  inflammation  of  one  or  more  quarters  of  the  udder,  and  is  most 
commonly  induced  by  the  animal  catching  cold.  It  particularly  at- 
tacks those  cows  that  have  a redundancy  of  blood  in  the  system,  or 
are  of  a gross  habit  of  body.  Young  heifers  are  not  always  exempt 
from  it. 

It  will  be  necessary,  as  soon  as  the  downfall  is  discovered,  to  bring 
the  animal  out  of  the  pasture,  and  take  away  from  three  to  five  quarts 
of  blood,  according  to  her  size  or  strength.  If  she  is  bled  at  night,  it 
will  be  proper  on  the  next  morning  to  give  her  the  purging  drink, 
No.  2,  (p.  47),  or  if  a stout  beast,  No.  15,  (p.  57). 

The  cow  should  be  sparingly  fed  for  a day  or  two  on  mashes  with 
a little  hay,  and  afterwards  turned  on  rather  short  pasture.  As  this 
is  a disease  either  confined  to,  or  most  violent  and  dangerous  in,  cows 
that  are  in  high  condition,  it  will  be  quite  necessary  to  keep  the 
patient  for  a while  on  spare  diet.  The  ground  oats,  and  barley,  and 
clover-hay,  and  oil-cake,  that  are  sometimes  given,  cannot  fail  to 
aggravate  the  complaint. 

The  following  ointment  should  be  well  rubbed  into  the  affected 
quarter,  immediately  after  milking,  but  it  must  be  carefully  washed 
off*  again  with  warm  water  before  the  milk  is  drawn. 

RECIPE  (No.  24). 

Mercurial  Garget  Ointment—  Take  soft  soap,  one  pound;  mercurial  ointment, 
two  ounces ; camphor,  rubbed  down  with  a little  spirit  of  wine,  one  ounce : rub  them 
well  together. 

This  ointment  will  penetrate  into  the  diseased  part  of  the  udder, 
and  be  of  very  great  service. 

In  obstinate  cases  the  iodine  has  been  applied  to  the  indurated 
udder  with  great  success. 

RECIPE  (No.  25). 

Iodine  Ointment.— Take,  hydriodate  of  potash,  one  dram ; and  lard,  seven  drams 
rub  them  well  together. 

A portion,  varying  from  the  size  of  a nut  to  that  of  a filbert,  accord- 
ing to  the  extent  and  degree  of  the  swelling  and  hardness,  should  be 
well  rubbed  into  the  affected  part  morning  and  night. 

It  may  sometimes  he  advisable  to  give  the  hydriodate  internally, 
and  from  eight  to  twelve  grains  may  be  administered  morning  and 
night  in  a little  gruel,  with  very  good  effect. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  disease,  the  bowels  must  be  kept 
open  with  half-doses  of  No.  2,  (p.  47).  The  fever  drink,  No  1 
(p.  46),  will  also  be  useful,  or  one  more  decidedly  diuretic,  as 

RECIPE  (No.  26). 

Diuretic  Drink.— Take,  powdered  nitre,  one  ounce  , powdered  resin,  two  ounces 
finger,  two  drams:  mix  them  well  together  in  a little  treads,  and  give  them  is 
warm  gruel. 


GARGET. 


63 


After  the  purulent  and  bloody  discharge  has  ceased,  and  the  teat 
seems  to  be  free  from  inflammation,  and  nearly  of  its  natural  size, 
colour,  and  softness,  it  will  be  prudent  to  continue  the  ointment  daily, 
and  this  last  drink  occasionally  for  two  or  three  weeks  at  the  least. 

Cases,  however,  will  occur,  either  neglected  at  the  beginning,  or 
the  beast  being  too  fat,  and  very  much  disposed  to  inflammation,  in 
which  the  teat  and  the  whole  quarter  will  long  continue  hard  and 
swelled,  end  tender,  and  will  get  worse  and  worse.  The  whole  of 
the  affected  part  must  then  be  carefully  examined,  to  ascertain  whe- 
ther there  is  matter  within,  and  whether  it  is  pointing,  i.  e.,  whether 
there  is  a part  a little  more  prominent  and  softer  than  the  rest.  If 
this  is  detected,  it  should  be  freely  opened  with  a lancet  or  penknife, 
the  matter  suffered  to  flow  out,  and  the  wound  dressed  with  Tincture 
of  Aloes  or  Friar’s  Balsam.  Slight  incisions  with  a lancet,  where 
matter  cannot  be  detected,  will  often  be  serviceable.  The  flow  of 
blood  should  be  encouraged  by  fomentations  with  warm  water.  The 
teats  are  sometimes  cut  off  in  obstinate  cases  of  this  kind ; but  that 
should*,  if  possible,  be  avoided,  for  the  quarter  will  be  lost,  and  there 
will  be  a serious  diminution  in  the  quantity  of  milk  as  long  as  the 
cow  lives.  The  teat  may  be  cut  deeply  in  order  to  let  out  the  matter. 
This  wound  will  readily  heal  again,  and  the  quarter  will  be  as  useful 
as  ever. 

If  the  udder  appears  gangrenous,  it  should  be  scarified  with  a 
lancet,  and  a solution  of  chloride  of  lime  applied,  whilst  the  strength 
of  the  animal  should  be  supported  by  tonic  medicine. 

When  the  cow  dies,  it  is  generally  from  mortification,  to  prevent 
which  it  is  often  necessary  to  remove  not  only  the  affected  teat,  but 
the  whole  of  the  quarter.  A skilful  man,  more  competent  than  a 
common  cow-leach,  should  be  employed  for  this  purpose. 

A frequent  but  unsuspected  cause  of  this  disease  is  the  hasty  and 
careless  mode  of  milking  wrhich  is  often  adopted.  A considerable 
quantity  of  milk  is  left  in  the  hag,  particularly  when  a cow  gives  her 
milk  slowly.  This  is  not  only  a loss  to  the  farmer,  from  so  much 
less  milk  finding  its  way  into  the  dairy-room,  and  from  the  quantity 
of  milk  regularly  secreted  in  the  udder  of  the  cow  gradually  dimin- 
ishing; but  the  milk  curdles  in  the  teats,  and  produces  swellings,  and 
lays  the  foundation  for  garget. 

The  Sore  Teats  to  which  some  cows  are  subject  is  a very  different 
disease,  and  often  a very  troublesome  one.  It  usually  occurs  a little 
while  after  they  have  calved.  If  it  happens  in  the  summer,  the  ani- 
mals are  so  sadly  tormented  by  the  flies,  that  it  is  difficult  to  milk 
them  ; and. the  discharge  from  the  cracks  and  wounds  passing  through 
the  hand  in  the  act  of  milking,  and  mingling  with  the  milk,  renders 
it  disgusting,  if  not  unwholesome. 

The  following  ointment  will  generally  be  found  effectual : — 

RECIPE  (No.  27). 

Ointment  for  Sore  Teats.— Take,  elder  ointment,  six  ounces  ; bees’  wax,  two  ounce* 
mix  them  together,  and  add  an  ounce  each  of  sugar  oflead  and  alum,  in  fine  ^owdei 
-<tir  them  well  together  until  cold. 


o4 


GARGET. 


A little  of  this  should  be  rubbed  on  the  teats  morning  and  night  after 
milking;  and  if  the  flies  tease  the  animal  much,  a small  quantity  of 
aloes  or  assafoetida  may  be  mixed  with  the  ointment.  The  latter  is 
the  more  effectual,  but  its  smell  is  very  unpleasant. 

The  teats  are  sometimes  so  sore  that  it  is  necessary  to  hobble  the 
cow,  in  order  to  make  her  stand  ; but  this  is  seldom  effectual ; for  the 
legs  of  the  cow  get  sore,  and  she  kicks  worse  than  ever.  Kindness 
and  patience  are  the  best  remedies.  It  is  never  of  any  use  to  beat  or 
ill-use  a cow  for  this  fidgetiness  at  milking.  She  will  either  at  the 
time  do  mischief  in  return,  or  she  will  at  some  other  opportunity  take 
her  revenge. 

There  is  another  variety  of  disease  to  which  the  udder  of  cows  is 
liable,  somewhat  different  from  that  described : in  Scotland  it  is 
termed  Weeds.  It  is  attended  by  considerable  fever  and  constitutional 
disturbance,  commencing  with  a shivering  fit,  which,  after  some  hours, 
*s  succeeded  by  a hot  fit,  in  which  all  the  symptoms  of  fever  are  pre- 
sent,— the  cow  hangs  her  head  and  refuses  to  feed,  and  the  udder  is 
painful,  hot,  and  swollen.  If  relief  is  not  soon  obtained,  an  abscess 
forms,  and  one  or  more  quarters  become  cold,  black,  and  insensible ; 
the  udder  becomes  disorganized,  and  the  animal  is  lost. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  administer  a warm  stimulant,  such 
as — 

RECIPE  (No.  28). 

Take,  ginger  powdered,  half  an  ounce;  caraway-seeds,  six  drams;  allspice,  half  an 
ounce:  in  a quart  of  warm  water  or  mild  ale. 

Sometimes  this  draught  alone  will  effect  a cure,  but  the  body 
should  be  clothed  and  the  cow  well  nursed.  On  the  following  day, 
if  the  bowels  are  constipated  and  the  cow  appears  dull,  a purgative 
should  be  given.  The  udder  must  be  fomented  with  warm  water  for 
an  hour  at  a time,  several  times  a day,  and  if  it  is  much  swollen,  it 
should  be  suspended  with  cloths  passing  over  the  loins.  It  may  also 
be  rubbed  with  a liniment  composed  of  hartshorn  and  oil.  It  is  of 
much  importance  that  the  fomentations  should  be  as  hot  as  can  be 
borne,  and  applied  in  good  earnest  to  the  part  affected,  and  for  a long 
time  together. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

TREATMENT  OF  THE  COW  BEFORE  AND  DURING  CALVING. 

It  is  an  old  and  true  saying,  and  the  truth  of  it  is  nowhere  more 
evident  than  in  the  treatment  of  the  milch-cow,  that  the  prevention 
of  an  evil  is  better  than  the  cure.  The  difficulty  of  calving,  and  the 
mortality  afterwards,  are  in  a great  measure  to  be  traced  to  the  im- 
roper  management  of  the  cow.  So  far  as  the  udder  is  concerned. 


TREATMENT  OF  THE  COW 


69 


there  is  a plan  usually  ad  op  tea*  and  a very  necessary  one-«the  cow 
is  dried  six  or  eight  weeks  before  calving.  Two  reasons  are  given 
for  this  : the  first  is,  that  after  a long  period  of  milking,  the  strength 
and  constitution  of  the  cow  require  a little  respite : a more  important 
reason,  however,  is,  that  from  some  cause  that  has  never  been  fully 
explained,  the  mixture  of  the  old  milk,  and  the  new  secretion  that 
nature  prepares  for  the  expected  calf,  produces  frequently  great  irri- 
tation and  inflammation  in  the  udder,  and  obstinate  garget  is  apt  to 
ensue. 

During  the  early  period  of  gestation  the  animal  may,  and  should 
be,  tolerably  well  fed,  for  she  has  to  provide  milk  for  the  dairy  and 
nourishment  for  the  foetus  ; yet  even  here  there  should  be  moderation 
and  care : but  when  she  is  dried,  her  food  should  be  considerably 
diminished.  She  should  not  be  too  fat  or  full  of  blood  at  the  time 
of  calving,  for  that  is  the  frequent  cause  of  difficult  labour,  garget, 
milk  fever,  and  death.  There  are  few  things  in  which  the  farmer  errs 
more  than  in  this.  There  may  be  an  error  in  starving  her  before  she 
calves,  but  it  is  a much  more  dangerous  one  to  bring  her  into  too  high 
condition. 

Some  cows  are  apt  to  slink  their  calves,  or  to  produce  them  dead 
before  their  time.  This  generally  happens  about  the  middle  of  their 
pregnancy.  If  about  that  time  a cow  is  uneasy,  feverish,  off  her  food, 
or  wandering  about  in  search  of  something  for  which  she  seems  tc 
have  a longing , or  most  greedily  and  ravenously  devouring  some 
particular  kind  of  food,  she  should  be  bled  and  physicked  (No.  2,  p 
47).  If  she  is  not  quieted,  she  should  be  bled  and  physicked  again 
in  the  course  of  three  or  four  days.  She  should  be  immediately  re- 
moved from  the  other  cows;  for  should  she  slink  her  calf  among 
them,  it  is  not  improbable  that  some,  or  even  all,  of  the  others  will 
do  the  same.  This  is  not  easily  accounted  for,  but  it  is  perfectly  true. 
The  cow  that  slinks  her  calf  will  often  require  much  attention.  She 
should  always  be  physicked,  and  in  most  cases  bled,  and,  after  that, 
the  best  thing  to  be  done  with  her  is  to  fatten  her  for  the  butcher ; for 
she  will  probably  do  the  same  again,  and  teach  others  the  habit. 

When  the  ninth  calendar  month  is  nearly  expired,*  the  cow  should 
be  diligently  looked  after.  She  should  be  brought  as  near  to  the 
house  as  can  be  conveniently  done ; she  should  lose  three  or  foul 
quarts  of  blood,  unless  she  is  very  poor;  and  she  should  most  cer- 
tainly be  physicked.  It  will  be  better  if  she  can  be  separated  from 
wie  other  cows ; and  although  it  may  not  be  prudent  to  house  her 
entire. 7,  there  should  be  some  shed  or  shelter  into  which  she  may  go. 

When  it  appears  that  labour  is  close  at  hand,  she  should  be  driven 
gently  to  the  cow-house,  and  for  a while  left  quite  alone.  She  will 
do  better  by  herself  than  if  she  is  often  disturbed  by  one  and  another 


* The  average  period  of  gestation  in  the  cow  has  been  ascertained  by  Earl  Spencer 
tc  be  284  or  285  days.  The  longest  period  under  his  observation  was  313,  and  the 
shortest  220  days.  He  *Jso  found  that  when  gestation  was  longer  than  the  average 
the  greater  proportion  bull  calves.— White  on  Cattle  Medicine , by  IV.  C.  Spoons 
6* 


66 


BEFORE  AND  DURING  CALVING. 


looking  in  upon  her  and  watching  her.  If,  however,  she  is  discovered 
in  the  act  of  calving  in  the  homestead,  she  should  not  be  moved, 
however  exposed  may  be  her  situation.  It  would  sometimes  be  dan- 
gerous to  drive  her  even  a hundred  yards. 

The  usual  symptoms  of  the  approach  of  calving  are  uneasiness, 
slight  lifting  of  the  tail,  lying  down  and  getting  up,  the  evident 
labour-throe,  gentle  at  first,  and  increasing  in  force,  and  the  com- 
mencement of  the  protrusion  of  the  membranes  from  her  shape.  The 
still  earlier  symptoms,  and  preceding  the  labour  by  a few  days,  are 
enlargement  of  the  udder,  and  redness  of  the  space  between  her  shape 
and  the  udder. 

The  labour  having  actually  commenced,  the  membranes  will  more 
and  more  protrude,  until  they  break,  and  the  fluid  by  which  the  calf 
■was  surrounded  will  escape.  If  her  pains  are  strong,  the  cow  should 
for  a while  be  scarcely  meddled  with  ; but  if  an  hour  or  more  elapses, 
and  no  portion  of  the  calf  presents  itself,  the  hand,  well  greased, 
should  be  introduced,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  situation  and  position 
of  the  calf.  The  natural  position  is  with  the  fore  feet  presenting,  and 
the  muzzle  lying  upon  the  fore-legs.  If  the  foetus  is  found  in  this 
position,  and  advanced  into  the  passage,  some  time  longer  should  be 
allowed  to  see  what  nature  will  do ; and  the  strength  of  the  animal 
may,  if  necessary,  be  supported  by  some  gruel,  with  which  a pint  of 
warm  ale  has  been  mixed,  being  horned  down.  As  soon,  however, 
as  the  throes  begin  to  weaken,  and  before  that,  if  no  progress  has 
been  made,  manual  assistance  must  be  rendered. 

Here  it  will  be  recollected  that  there  are  two  objects  to  be  accom- 
plished,— the  saving  of  the  lives  of  both  the  mother  and  the  young 
one,  and  that,  consequently,  the  means  at  first  employed  should  be 
gentle.  The  hand  should  be  introduced,  and  the  fore-legs  of  the  calf 
laid  hold  of  and  drawn  down,  the  efforts  of  the  operator  being  em- 
ployed at  the  moment  of  the  throes  of  the  mother.  If  the  legs  are 
brought  forward  a little  way,  care  should  be  taken  that  the  head  is 
accompanying  them.  The  hand  will  sometimes  be  sufficient  for  this 
purpose.  If  the  head  cannot  be  moved  by  the  hand,  a cord  must  be 
procured  with  a slip  knot  at  the  end,  which  is  to  be  passed  carefully 
into  the  passage,  and,  the  mouth  of  the  young  animal  being  opened, 
fastened  round  his  lower  jaw.  The  end  of  this  must  be  given  to  an 
assistant,  who  should  be  instructed  to  pull  gently,  but  firmly,  at  the 
moment  of  the  throes,  while  the  principal  operator  is  endeavouring  to 
draw  on  the  feet. 

Should  not  this  succeed,  it  will  appear  that,  either  from  the  narrow- 
ness of  the  pelvis,  or  the  size  of  the  foetus,  there  will  be  difficulty  and 
danger  in  accomplishing  its  extraction.  The  operator  must  then  begin 
to  think  less  of  the  safety  of  the  calf,  and  endeavour  to  secure  that 
of  the  mother.  Two  other  large  cords  or  ropes  must  be  procured,  and 
one  fastened  round  each  leg.  The  service  of  two  assistants  will  now 
be  required.  One  should  pull  at  the  head,  and  tne  other  the  feet, 
while  the  operator  ascertains  the  progress  that  is  made : too  mud 


1 REATMENT  OP  THE  COW 


07 


forod,  however,  should  not  immediately  be  used,  for  the  chance  of 
saving  the  young  one  must  not  yet  be  given  up.  This  not  succeeding, 
greater  power  must  be  applied,  until  the  assistants  begin  to  use  their 
full  strength,  pulling  steadily,  and  with  the  pains  of  the  cow,  if  they 
still  continue. 

In  the  natural  position  of  the  calf,  the  young  one  is  almost  uniformly 
extracted  by  these  means,  and  its  life  is  preserved ; for  both  the  mo- 
ther and  her  progeny  will,  without  serious  injury,  bear  the  employ- 
ment of  more  force  than  would  by  some  be  thought  credible.  When 
the  womb  is  unable  to  discharge  its  contents,  and  the  throes  are 
diminishing,  or  perhaps  ceasing,  much  benefit  may  be  derived  from 
the  administration  of  the  ergot  of  rye,  which  appears  to  act  as  a 
stimulus  specifically  on  the  uterus : two  drachms  of  this  medicine, 
finely  powdered,  may  be  given  in  a pint  of  ale,  and  repeated  several 
times,  if  required,  with  intervals  from  half  an  hour  to  an  hour. 

The  foetus  is  not,  however,  always  presented  naturally,  and  it  is 
the  duty  of  the  operator  to  ascertain  its  exact  position  in  the  womb. 
This  he  will  not  find  much  difficulty  in  accomplishing. 

The  most  usual  false  position  is  the  presentation  of  the  head,  while 
the  feet  of  the  calf  are  bent  and  doubled  down  under  his  belly,  and 
remain  in  the  womb.  A cord  must  be  passed  as  before  around  the 
lower  jaw,  which  is  then  to  be  pushed  back  into  the  womb.  The 
operator  now  introduces  his  hand,  and  endeavours  to  feel  the  situation 
of  the  feet.  He  is  generally  able  to  find  them  out,  and  to  fix  a cord 
round  each  pastern,  or  at  least  about  the  knee,  and  then  he  can  usually 
bring  them  into  the  passage.  The  head  is  next  to  be  brought  forward 
again  by  means  of  the  cord ; and,  the  three  cords  being  afterwards 
pulled  together,  the  foetus  is  extracted.  Should  the  calf  have  been 
long  fixed  in  the  passage,  and  be  evidently  much  swelled,  it  is  cer- 
tainly dead ; the  head  may  then  be  opened  in  order  to  lessen  its  bulk, 
and  the  extraction  accomplished  as  before. 

When  the  feet  present,  and  the  head  is  doubled  under  the  rim  of 
the  passage,  the  case  is  more  difficult,  and  the  calf  is  very  rarely 
saved : indeed  it  may  be  reckoned  to  be  dead  if  it  has  remained  in 
this  position  for  any  considerable  time.  Cords  are  first  to  be  placed 
round  the  feet;  the  hand  must  be  afterwards  passed  into  the  womb, 
and  the  situation  of  the  head  exactly  ascertained,  and  the  cord  passed 
KHind  the  lower  jaw.  The  calf  being  then  pushed  farther  back  into 
fci.o  womb,  the  head  must  be  brought  into  the  passage,  and,  the  three 
ropes  being  pulled  together,  the  delivery  effected  as  quickly  as  may 
be,  without  the  exertion  of  more  force  than  is  necessary. 

The  last  false  presentation  I shall  mention  is  that  of  the  breech 
the  tail  appearing  at  the  mouth  of  the  shape.  The  hand  is  to  b 
passed  into  the  uterus,  and  the  cords  fastened  round  each  hock.  Th« 
calf  is  then  to  be  pushed  as  far  back  as  possible  into  the  womb,  and 
the  h xjks,  one  after  the  other,  brought  into  the  passage,  the  ropes 
being  rhifted  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  fetlock.  With  the  exertion 


59 


BEFORE  AND  DURING  CALVING. 


>f  considerable  force,  the  calf  may  now  be  extracted,  and  sometimes 
without  serious  injury. 

By  studying  these  cases  the  operator  will  be  enabled  to  adapt  his 
neasures  to  every  case  of  false  presentation;  and  they  are  numerous. 
Great  force  must  sometimes  be  used  to  effect  the  extraction  of  the 
^alf.  The  united  efforts  of  five  or  six  men  have  been  employed,  and 
(although  such  practice  can  scarcely  be  defended  in  any  case),  a 
torse  has  sometimes  been  attached  to  the  cords.  The  foetus  has  been 
necessarily  destroyed,  but  the  mother  has  survived  ; too  often,  how- 
ever, she  has  evidently  fallen  a victim  to  this  unnecessary  violence. 
f,f  by  the  united  force  of  two  or  three  men  the  foetus  cannot  be  brought 
away,  any  ruder  and  more  violent  attempt  must  always  be  fraught 
with  danger,  and  will  often  be  fatal.  The  safer  way  for  the  mother, — 
yet  that  is  attended  with  considerable  risk, — is  to  cut  off  some  of  the 
limbs  of  the  foetus.  One  or  possibly  both  shoulders  may  be  separated, 
slipped , and  then  the  head  and  trunk  may,  without  much  difficulty,  be 
brought  away.  The  knife  must  be  one  that  can  be  concealed  in  the 
hand,  and  that  is  hooked  at  the  end,  and  rounded  and  thick  at  the 
back ; but,  notwithstanding  that,  there  is  much  danger  of  wounding 
the  womb,  which  is  forcibly  pressing  on  the  hand  of  the  operator. 

Labour  is  not  unfrequently  prevented  by  the  diseased  state  of  the 
entrance  01  neck  of  the  womb,  which  becomes  hard  and  scirrhous, 
and  thus  prevents  the  calf  escaping.  When  this  is  found  by  exami- 
nation to  be  the  case,  an  operation  should  be  performed,  which  con- 
sists in  divi  Jing.  the  contracted  entrance  by  means  of  a small  knife 
passed  up,  protected  by  the  hand  and  fingers.  Considerable  care 
must  be  exercised  so  as  not  to  cut  too  deeply ; and  it  is  better  to  divide 
the  stricture  slightly  in  several  places. 

From  the  violent  efforts  of  the  cow,  or  from  unnecessary  artificial 
violence,  the  uterus,  or  calf-bed,  may  protrude,  and  be  absolutely  in- 
verted. The  case  is  not  desperate.  The  part  must  be  cleaned  from 
blood  and  dirt,  and  supported  by  a sheet ; then,  the  operator  beginning 
at  the  very  fundus  or  bottom  of  the  womb,  it  may  be  gradually  re- 
turned by  the  union  of  some  little  ingenuity  and  a great  deal  of 
patience.  The  animal  should  be  copiously  bled  before  this  is  attempt- 
ed, in  order  to  relax  the  passage;  and  the  application  of  cold  water 
for  a considerable  time  may  contract  the  womb  itself,  and  render  its 
return  more  easy.  A stitch  or  a couple  of  stitches  should  be  passed 
through  the  lips  of  the  shape,  in  order  to  prevent  a repetition  of  the 
protrusion,  and  the  following  anodyne  draught  administered  — 

RECIPE  (No.  29). 

Anodyne  Drink.— Take  powdered  opium,  half  a drachm  ; sweet  spirit  of  nitre,  two 
ounces.  Rub  them  together,  adding  the  fluid  by  small  quantities  at  a time,  and  give 
the  mixture  in  a pint  of  warm  gruel. 

If  tiie  cow  has  calved  unseen  and  unattended,  she  will,  like  every 
other  quadruped,  set  diligently  to  work  to  devour  the  cleansing,  and 
lick  the  new-born  animal  clean.  This,  however,  is  often  carefully 
prevented  when  there  is  the  opportunity  of  so  doing.  The  calf  is 


69 


TREATMENT  ) F T H H COW,  &L  C . 

taken  immediately  away,  and  the  cleansing  thrown  on  the  dung-heap 
We  act  contrary  to  nature  in  this.  She  would  not  have  given  to 
herbivorous  animals  this  propensity  to  eat  the  placenta,  had  not  some 
useful  purpose  been  effected  by  it.  Cleanliness  was  one  object,  tho 
next  was  either  to  support  the  strength  of  the  animal,  or  to  have  an 
aperient  or  salutary  influence  on  her.  The  mother  and  the  young  wu 
be  happier  if  they  are  left  to  pursue  the  dictates  of  nature.  Many  a 
cow  has  fretted  herself  into  fatal  fever  from  the  sudden  loss  of  her 
little  one,  and  many  a calf  has  died  from  the  neglect  of  that  cleanli- 
ness which  the  mother  could  best  effect. 

A great  deal  has  been  said  of  the  necessity  of  cleansing  the  cow 
after  calving,  or  the  removal  or  expulsion  of  the  placenta.  There  is 
much  error  in  this.  The  placenta  comes  away  with  the  calf ; and  it 
is  that,  natural  discharge  from  the  womb,  continued  during  se\^ral 
days,  and  which  is  observed  to  a greater  or  less  extent  in  all  quadru- 
peds, that  gives  the  notion  of  anything  being  retained.  Medicine, 
nevertheless,  is  necessary  in  order  to  prevent  that  access  of  fever  to 
which  the  cow  in  high  condition  is  liable ; but  that  medicine  should 
be  administered,  not  in  the  form  of  a stimulating  cordial,  from  the 
false  supposition  that  the  animal  wants  support  after  the  fatigue  and 
pain  it  has  undergone,  but  in  that  of  a purgative,  in  order  to  prevent 
an  attack  of  fever  to  which  the  animal  is  so  naturally  exposed  after 
parturition,  and  which  is  so  often  hastened  and  aggravated  by  absurd 
management. 

The  mother  requires  little  care  after  calving,  except  that  of  protec- 
tion from  too  great  severity  of  weather,  and  this  more  especially  if 
she  had  been  much  nursed  before  parturition.  A warm  mash  may  be 
given  daily  for  a little  while;  but  otherwise  she  may  return  to  her 
previous  and  not  too  luxuriant  feed.  The  state  of  her  udder,  however, 
should  be  examined : if  it  is  at  all  hard,  she  should  he  milked  twice 
every  day,  and  the  calf  should  be  put  with  her  several  times  in  the 
day  at  least,  if  not  altogether.  Perhaps  she  will  not  let  it  suck,  espe- 
cially if  it  is  the  first  calf,  on  account  of  the  soreness  of  her  teats,  and 
her  being  unaccustomed  to  the  duties  of  nursing.  She  must  then  be 
carefully  watched  at  sucking  time,  and  the  bag,  if  it  is  very  hard  and 
kernelly,  and  sore,  must  be  fomented  with  warm  water,  or,  if  neces- 
sary, the  garget  ointment  (No.  24,  p.  69,  or  No.  27,  p.  70)  must  bs 
rubbed  into  the  part  principally  affected. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  MILK  FEVER,  OR  THE  DROP. 

This  is  a disease  almost  peculiar  to  cows  in  high  condition  at  the 
time  of  calving:  whether  young  or  old,  all  are  liable  to  be  attacked 
oy  it : they  are,  however,  rarely  attacked  until  after  they  have  had 


70 


MILK  FEVER. 


several  calves ; and  it  is  stated  that  the  short-horned  breed  i more 
liable  to  it  than  others.  Whenever  it  takes  place,  either  at  h me  or 
in  the  field,  it  is  distressing  to  the  animal,  as  well  as  troublesome  to 
the  owner;  for  the  beast  is  seldom  able  to  rise  during  several  daya 
The  puerperal  or  milk  fever  is  most  frequent  during  the  hot  weather 
of  summer.  The  cows  most  liable  to  be  attacked  by  this  fever  have 
large  udders,  that  have  been  full  of  milk  for  several  days  before 
calving.  It  is  a very  dangerous  disease  when  severe,  and  often  proves 
fatal  even  under  the  most  judicious  treatment. 

The  milk  fever  most  commonly  appears  about  the  second  or  third 
day  after  calving;  but  the  cow  is  occasionally  down  within  a few 
hours  after  parturition.  It  is  first  recognized  by  the  animal  refusing 
her  food,  looking  dull  and  heavy;  then  follows  protrusion  of  the  eye, 
heaving  of  the  flanks,  restlessness,  and  every  symptom  of  fever.  In 
a few  hours,  or  on  the  next  day  at  the  latest,  the  cow  begins  to  stag- 
ger; is  weak  in  the  loins;  palsy  steals  over  the  whole  frame;  and 
she  falls,  unable  to  rise  again.  It  is  in  this  advanced  stage  that  the 
complaint  is  too  often  first  observed  ; the  previous  symptoms  are  not 
taken  notice  of,  and  the  beast  is  almost  past  cure  before  the  owner  is 
aware  of  her  illness.  From  this  seeming  palsy  of  the  hinder  limbs, 
and  sometimes  of  the  whole  frame,  the  disease  is  very  appropriately 
called  dropping  after  calving. 

There  are  evidently  two  varieties  of  this  disease,  one  being  consi- 
derably more  dangerous  than  the  other.  In  the  severer  kind,  the 
brain,  as  well  as  the  spinal  marrow,  is  affected,  whilst  the  milder 
disease  is  principally  confined  to  the  loins. 

In  the  former  kind,  we  first  notice  a staggering  gait,  the  breathing 
then  becomes  irregular  and  disturbed,  the  eyes  full  and  glassy,  and 
the  pupil  dilated.  The  animal,  after  reeling  about  for  some  time, 
falls,  and  frequently  never  rises  again.  She  then  becomes,  in  great 
measure,  unconscious ; the  head  is  turned  on  one  side ; sensation 
appears  partially  lost,  so  that,  if  liquids  are  given  with  the  horn,  they 
often  enter  the  windpipe  without  occasioning  coughing.  The  hind 
legs  become  entirely  paralyzed,  and  the  fore  ones  are  sometimes 
affected  in  a similar  manner.  The  pulse  is  generally  very  quick,  bu* 
weak;  the  appetite  is  altogether  lost;  rumination  ceases;  and  th€ 
bowels  are  obstinately  constipated.  If  the  animal  dies,  it  is  generally 
within  forty-eight  hours  from  the  commencement  of  the  symptoms, 
and  indeed  sometimes  only  a few  hours  afterwards.  In  some  cases 
the  animal  will  lie  in  a state  of  insensibility ; in  others,  she  exhibits 
considerable  pain  and  distress.  The  cow  is  unable  to  discharge  either 
her  urine  or  dung,  the  nerves  influencing  these  offices  being  paralyzed. 
On  examining  the  bodies  of  cows  that  have  died  from  this  disease, 
the  principal  mischief  has  been  found  in  the  brain  and  spinal  cord  • 
in  the  latter,  chiefly  at  the  region  of  the  loins.  The  womb,  in  the 
greater  number  of  instances,  has  been  found  in  the  same  state  as  it 
usually  is  after  parturition ; but,  in  some  cases,  it  presents  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  most  intense  inflammation.  In  such  cases,  it  appears 


MILK  FEVER.  71 

that  the  inflammation  of  the  womb  is  superadded  to  the  other  dis- 
ease. 

In  the  milder  form  of  this  complaint,  it  is,  to  a greater  extent,  a 
local  malady  : the  spinal  cord  at  the  region  of  the  loins  is  affected  ; 
but  the  brain  is  comparatively  exempt;  and  thus,  though  the  hind 
extremities  are  paralyzed  to  a great  extent,  yet  the  insensibility  is  by 
nc  means  genera],  and  consciousness  is  retained.  In  both  the  severe 
and  mild  form  the  digestive  organs  are  altogether  deranged,  and  in 
fatal  cases  the  third  stomach  is  found  loaded  with  hard  indigestible 
food,  and  the  other  viscera  are  often  found  inflamed. 

The  cause  of  the  disease  has  not  been  ascertained,  but  it  appears 
connected  with  a high  state  of  condition,  and  is  best  prevented  by 
keeping  the  cow  short  of  food  some  days  previous  to  her  calving. 

The  treatment  of  this  disease  must  be  modified  according  to  the 
severity  of  the  symptoms,  and  the  fact  of  its  being  the  milder  or  the 
severer  affection.  It  is  important  also  to  ascertain  whether  the  secre- 
tion of  milk  has  ceased ; as  it  has  been  ascertained  that  when  this  ia 
the  case  the  disease  is  fatal,  and  when  not  so  the  cow  recovers.  If 
the  pulse  is  strong,  it  will  be  proper  to  bleed  to  the  extent,  perhaps, 
of  four  or  five  quarts.  The  principal  expectation  of  relief,  however, 
must  be  placed  on  the  exhibition  of  powerful  purgatives. 

RECIPE  (No.  30). 

Take  Epsom  or  Glauber’s  salts,  twelve  ounces;  flour  of  sulphur,  four  ouncei; 
powdered  ginger,  four  drachms  ; spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  one  ounce.  To  be  dissolve^ 
in  warm  water. 

One-half  of  this  draught  may  be  repeated  twice  a day  until  tha 
bowels  are  properly  opened.  In  the  severer  affection  it  will  be  proper 
to  add  from  ten  to  twenty  drops  of  the  croton  oil  to  the  first  draught 
and  even  two  drachms  of  carbonate  of  ammonia  and  ten  grains  of 
cantharides  have  been  conjoined  with  advantage.  It  is  of  importance 
to  administer  the  draught  slowly  and  carefully  ; and  when  the  cow  is 
any  way  unconscious  it  will  be  better  to  give  it  by  means  of  Read’s 
syringe,  putting  the  tube  half-way  down  the  neck,  so  as  to  prevent 
any  of  the  medicine  getting  into  the  windpipe,  where  it  has  been 
known  to  produce  fatal  inflammation.  The  action  of  the  physic  should 
be  assisted  by  frequent  clysters,  and  the  bladder  should  be  emptied 
from  time  to  time  by  a catheter.  A blistering  liniment  should  be 
rubbed  on  the  course  of  the  spine : in  the  milder  disease  it  may  be 
limited  chiefly  to  the  loins,  but  in  the  severer  affection  it  should  ex- 
tend from  the  head  to  the  tail,  and  be  often  repeated.  It  is  astonishing 
what  a vast  quantity  of  purgative  medicine  may  often  be  administered 
in  this  disease  without  producing  any  effect,  the  stomachs  being  in 
such  a torpid  state. 

In  the  milder  disease,  the  treatment  must  be  similar  in  its  nature, 
though  not  so  powerful  as  that  here  recommended ; the  croton  oil 
may  be  dispensed  with,  and  the  blistering  application  confined  to 
the  loins. 

The  cow  should  oe  made  as  comfortable  as  possible.  A good  bed 


7*2 


MILK  FEVEB 


of  straw  should  be  got  under  her,  and  her  fore-quarters  should  lx 
considerably  raised,  so  that  the  dung  and  urine  may  flow  away,  li 
not  unfrequently  happens,  that  as  soon  as  the  cow  begins  thoroughly 
to  purge  she  gets  up  and  walks  about,  although  still  continuing  for  a 
while  in  a very  weak  state. 

In  order  to  make  her  as  comfortable  as  possible,  the  cow  should  be 
shifted  from  side  to  side  twice  in  the  day ; all  filth  of  every  kind 
should  be  carefully  removed,  a warm  cloth  thrown  over,  and  warm 
gruel  or  linseed-tea  frequently  offered  to  her  with  mashes,  if  she  will 
eat  them. 

It  will  be  a very  bad  symptom  if  she  begins  to  swell,  and  there  are 
frequent  belchings  of  very  foetid  gas.  If  the  digestive  powers  are  thus 
weakened  there  is  but  little  hope.  The  following  ball  should  then  be 
given,  still  continuing  the  purgative  medicine  if  necessary  : — 

RECIPE  (No.  31). 

Cordial  Drink. — Take  caraway  powder,  one  ounce:  gentian,  powdered,  half  an 
ounce;  ginger,  powdered,  half  an  ounce;  essence  of  peppermint,  20  drops. 

This,  in  the  form  of  a ball,  will  probably  find  its  way  into  the  paunch. 
Half  the  quantity  of  the  above  ingredients  should  also  be  given  morn- 
ing and  night  as  a drink,  in  a pint  of  warm  ale,  and  the  same  quantity 
of  thin  gruel. 

If  the  cow  should  continue  to  swell,  relief  must  be  obtained  by 
means  of  the  flexible  pipe  for  that  purpose;  and,  if  the  proprietor  has 
the  pump  which  should  accompany  the  pipe,  some  gallons  of  warm 
water  in  which  a little  ginger  has  been  boiled  may  be  thrown  into 
the  paunch,  in  order  to  wash  out  a portion  of  its  contents.  Should 
not  the  pipe  be  at  hand,  an  opening  may  be  made  into  the  paunch  at 
the  flank  with  a sharp-pointed  knife,  in  the  usual  manner;  or,  if  the 
case  is  becoming  absolutely  desperate,  the  operator  will  be  justified 
in  enlarging  the  opening  so  as  to  admit  the  hand,  and  gradually  take 
out  the  greater  part  of  the  undigested  food.  The  edges  of  the  wound 
should  then  be  brought  together  and  held  by  two  or  three  stitches, 
the  divided  skin  and  the  wall  of  the  paunch  being  included  in  each 
stitch. 

There  is  one  thing  that  should  not  be  omitted,  and  that  is  the  at- 
tempt, two  or  three  times  every  day,  to  bring  back  the  milk,  by  dili- 
gently stroking  the  teats.  As  the  drying  up  of  the  milk  is  the  earliest 
symptom  of  the  attack  of  the  disease,  so  the  return  of  it  is  the  happiest 
promise  of  recovery. 

If  the  cow  does  not  get  up  on  the  third  or  fourth  day,  there  is  but 
little  chance  that  she  ever  will.  The  case,  however,  should  not  be 
abandoned,  for  she  has  done  well  even  after  the  fourteenth  day. 

If  the  udder  is  hard  and  knotty  the  camphorated  oil  (No.  11,  p.  53) 
should  be  well  rubbed  over  it  twice  every  day  ; and  if  it  is  very  hot 
and  tender,  fomentations  of  warm  water  should  be  used,  but  no  cold 
lotion  is  admissible  in  such  a case. 

As  the  cow  is  frequently  unwilling,  and  sometimes  unable,  to  take 


73 


THE  BLAIN,  & C . 

sufficient  nutriment  herself,  some  nutritious  food  should  be  horned  in ; 
and  there  is  nothing  better  than  good  thick  gruel.  Two  or  three  quarts 
given  four  times  every  day  will  be  enough.  All  sweet  things,  which 
farmers  are  so  apt  to  give,  should  be  omitted  ; the  food  in  the  paunch 
is  sufficiently  ready  to  ferment,  without  giving  any  sugar. 

A cow  labouring  under  milk  fever  should  scarcely  ever  be  left.  She 
naturally  gets  very  tired  of  coughing  so  long,  and  sometimes  attempt* 
to  shift  herself,  and  would  get  sadly  bruised  if  assistance  were  not 
afforded;  besides  which,  in  the  early  stage  of  the  disease,  and  occa 
tonally  afterwards,  there  is  some  affection  of  the  brain,  and  the 
animal  is  half  unconscious  of  what  she  does,  and  would  beat  herself 
dangerously  about  if  care  were  not  taken  of  her. 

I must  again  repeat  that  prevention  is  better  than  cure ; and  that 
the  best  preventive  of  milk  fever  is  not  to  let  her  be  in  too  high  con- 
dition, but  to  take  four  or  five  quarts  of  blood  from  her,  and  give  her 
a physic  drink  eight  or  ten  days  before  the  expected  time  of  calving. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  BLAIN,  &C. 

This  is  b)  no  means  an  unfrequent  disease,  and  is  commonly  known 
by  the  name  of  blain , hawkes , or  gargyse. 

The  animal  appears  dull  and  languid,  the  eyes  red  and  inflamed, 
with  tears  trickling  from  them.  A swelling  begins  about  the  eyes, 
and  occasionally  appears  on  other  parts  of  the  body ; but  the  charac- 
teristic symptom  is  that  there  are  generally  blisters  under  the  tongue, 
or  at  the  back  part  of  the  mouth  ; the  pulse  is  quicker  than  natural ; 
there  is  more  or  less  heaving  of  the  flanks;  and  the  bowels  are  some- 
times constipated.  When  the  complaint  is  not  checked  at  the  onset, 
there  is  often  a copious  flow  of  saliva  from  the  mouth,  mixed  often 
with  a purulent,  bloody,  stinking  discharge ; the  beast  becomes  ex- 
tremely weak  and  reduced,  and  is  in  danger  of  being  suffocated  by 
the  great  and  rapid  enlargement  of  the  tongue. 

Causes. — Those  cattle  are  the  most  subject  to  this  complaint  that 
are  in  high  condition,  and  feeding  on  rich  pasture  grounds.  It  ap- 
pears in  many  cases  to  be  brought  on  by  a redundancy  of  blood  in 
the  system,  or  from  the  beast  taking  cold  while  in  that  state.  It  is 
most  prevalent  in  the  summer  months,  especially  when  the  weathei 
is  hot  and  sultry,  but  it  occurs  at  all  times  of  the  year,  and  in  pastures 
of  every  kind,  yet  oftenest  in  low,  marshy  situations. 

This  is  a disease  which  must  not  be  trifled  with  for  a moment.  1 
have  known  it  prove  fatal  in  the  course  of  one  day ; and  when  ne- 
glected at  the  beginning  it  has  speedily  assumed  a malignant  charac- 
ter, which  baffled  every  attempt  to  arrest  its  progress. 


74 


THE  BLAIN,  & C . 

The  remedy,  and  often  a very  expeditious  one  for  this  disease,  is  10 
cut  deeply,  and  from  end  to  end,  the  bladders  that  will  be  found  along 
the  side  of  and  under  the  tongue.  They  will  appear  to  be  filled  with 
a glutinous  matter,  and,  although  there  may  not  he  much  bleeding 
from  them  at  first,  considerable  bloody  fluid  will  gradually  ooze  out, 
the  swelling  of  the  mouth  and  head  will  subside,  and  the  beast  will 
be  very  much  relieved.  All  the  curious  operations  of  thrusting  sticks 
and  tar  down  the  throat  have  this  for  their  object,  to  break  these 
bladders,  but  which  is  most  easily  and  completely  effected  by  the 
knife. 

If,  however,  much  fever  has  accompanied  the  enlargement  of  the 
tongue,  it  will  be  prudent  to  take  away  five  or  six  quarts  of  blood, 
and  to  give  a physic  drink,  and  particularly  if,  on  the  day  following 
the  operation,  the  beast  should  continue  to  be  feverish.  The  mouth 
may  likewise  be  washed  with  a solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime  in 
water,  in  the  proportions  of  one  drachm  of  the  powdered  chloride  to  a 
quart  of  water,  while  the  mouth  is  very  offensive;  and  with  equal 
parts  of  tincture  of  myrrh  and  water  afterwards,  in  order  to  promote 
the  healing  of  the  ulcer. 

If  the  fever  continues,  the  fever  drink  (No.  1,  p.  46)  may  be  given 
morning  and  night,  and  the  bowels  kept  open  by  the  purging  drinks 
(No.  2 or  7,  p.  47  and  52). 

Should  considerable  weakness  and  loss  of  appetite  remain  when 
the  fever  seems  to  be  subdued,  the  following  tonic  drink  may  be 
given: — 

RECIPE  (No.  32). 

Tonic  Drink.— Take  gentian,  two  drachms ; tartrate  of  iron,  one  drachm  ; ginger 
one  drachm.  Mix,  and  give  in  a pint  of  gruel. 

This  may  be  repeated  daily,  or  twice  a day,  as  circumstances  may 
require. 

It  will  sometimes  happen  that  the  animal  will  for  some  days  refuse 
to  eat,  on  account  of  the  soreness  of  the  mouth.  Thin  gruel  should 
\e  always  placed  within  his  reach,  and  plenty  of  thick  gruel  admi- 
nistered with  the  horn. 

The  person  who  has  to  attend  on  cattle  that  have  the  blain  should 
take  care  that  none  of  the  discharge  from  the  mouth  comes  in  contact 
with  any  sore  place,  for  very  troublesome  ulcers  have  been  produced 
by  this  means.  If  there  is  any  fear  that  a sore  place  has  been  thus 
Inoculated,  the  lunar  caustic  should  be  applied  to  it. 


THE  BLOOD,  & C . 


75 


CHAPTER  XIX 

THIS  BLOOD,  BLOOD-STRIKING,  BLACK-LEG,  QUARTER  EVIL,  OR  BLACK- 
QUARTER. 

The  disease  which  I am  now  to  describe  is  indicated  by  these 
curious  names,  and  a great  many  more,  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 
Very  few  of  these  names,  however,  are  misplaced,  for  they  indicate 
some  variety,  of  symptoms,  or  stage  of  this  dreadful  malady.  It 
would  be  much  better  recognized  by  the  title  of  Inflammatory  Fever, 

Its  attack  is  confined  almost  entirely  to  animals  that  are  in  high 
condition,  or  rapidly  improving;  I should  say,  too  high  condition, 
and  too  rapidly  improving.  In  some  instances  the  disease  will  give 
some  warning  of  its  approach,  but,  generally,  the  beast  appears  to  be 
to-day  perfectly  well,  and  to-morrow  he  will  be  found  with  his  head 
extended,  his  flanks  heaving,  his  breath  hot,  his  eyes  protruding,  his 
muzzle  dry,  his  pulse  quick  and  hard  — every  symptom,  in  short,  of 
the  highest  state  of  fever.  He  utters  a low  and  distressing  moaning ; 
he  is  already  half  unconscious ; he  will  stand  for  hours  together 
motionless,  or  if  he  moves,  or  is  compelled  to  move,  there  is  a pecu- 
liar staggering  referrible  to  the  hind  limbs,  and  generally  one  of  them 
more  than  the  other:  by  and  by  he  gets  uneasy,  he  shifts  his  weight 
from  foot  to  foot,  he  paws  faintly,  and  then  lies  down.  He  rises,  but 
almost  immediately  drops  again.  He  now  begins  to  be,  or  has  already 
been,  nearly  unconscious  of  surrounding  objects. 

There  are  many  other  symptoms  from  which  the  different  names 
of  the  disease  arose.  On  the  back  or  loins,  or  over  one  of  the  quar 
ters,  there  is  more  or  less  swelling ; if  felt  when  it  first  appears  it  is 
hot,  and  tender,  and  firm,  but  it  soon  begins  to  yield  to  the  touch, 
and  gives  a singular  crackling  noise  when  pressed  upon.  One  of  the 
limbs  likewise  enlarges,  sometimes  through  its  whole  extent,  and 
that  enormously.  It,  too,  is  at  first  firm,  and  hot  and  tender,  but  it 
soon  afterwards  becomes  soft  and  flabby,  or  pits  when  pressed  upon, 
i.  e .,  the  indentation  of  the  finger  remains.  When  examined  after 
death,  that  limb  is  full  of  red  putrid  fluid : it  is  mortified,  and  seems 
to  have  been  putrefying  almost  during  the  life  of  the  beast.  Large 
ulcers  break  out  in  this  limb,  and  sometimes  in  other  parts  of  the 
body,  and  almost  immediately  become  gangrenous ; pieces  of  several 
pounds  in  weight  have  sloughed  away ; three-fourths  of  the  udder 
have  dropped  off,  or  have  been  so  gangrenous  that  it  was  necessary 
to  remove  them,  and  the  animal  has  been  one  mass  of  ulceration. 
The  breath  stinks  horribly ; a very  offensive,  and  sometimes  purulent 
and  bloody  fluid  runs  from  the  mouth  ; the  urine  is  high-coloured  01 
bloody,  and  the  faeces  are  also  streaked  with  blood,  and  the  smell 
from  them  is  scarcely  supportable. 


76 


THE  BLOOD,  & C . 

In  this  state  the  beast  will  sometimes  continue  two  or  three  dayt» 
at  other  times  he  will  die  in  less  than  twelve  hours  from  the  first 
attack.  In  a few  instances,  however,  and  when  the  disease  has  been 
early  and  properly  treated,  all  these  dreadful  symptoms  gradually 
disappear,  and  the  animal  recovers. 

Although  much  evil  has  resulted  from  the  putrefied  carcases  of  the 
beasts  that  have  died  of  inflammatory  fever  being  suffered  to  lie  about, 
yet  it  does  not  appear  that  there  is  anything  infectious  in  the  disease. 
It  is  true  that  if  one  bullock  on  a farm  dies  of  the  blood,  many  will 
usually  follow;  but  it  is  only  because  they  have  been  exposed  to  the 
same  exciting  cause.  Fortunately,  also,  for  the  farmer,  it  is  almost 
confined  to  young  cattle.  Those  that  are  between  one  and  two  years 
old  are  most  subject  to  it ; but  some  of  three  and  four  years  are  occa- 
sionally attacked  by  it,  and  I have  seen  others  of  double  that  age  die 
unu3r  it.  Milch  cows,  or  lean  cattle,  are  in  a manner  exempt  from  it.. 

It  is  to  a redundancy,  or  overflowing  of  the  blood,  the  consequence 
of  the  sudden  change  from  bad  to  good  living,  that  this  disease  most 
commonly  owes  its  origin.  It  is  most  prevalent  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  spring  and  in  the  autumn  ; and  very  often,  at  those  seasons  of  the 
year,  proves  destructive  to  great  numbers  of  young  cattle  in  different 
parts  of  the  kingdom.  It  is  sometimes,  however,  seen  in  the  winter 
and  the  early  part  of  the  spring,  when  the  cattle  are  feeding  on  tur- 
nips. Some  situations  are  more  subject  to  this  complaint  than  others. 
It  is  most  frequent  in  low,  marshy  grounds,  and  pastures  situated  by 
the  side  of  woods. 

It  is  a disorder  of  high  condition  and  over-feeding.  The  times  of 
the  year  and  the  character  of  the  cattle  prove  this.  It  occurs  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  spring,  when  the  grass  is  most  luxuriant  and  nutri- 
tive, and  the  autumn,  when  we  have  the  second  flush  of  grass ; and 
the  animals  attacked  are  those  principally  that  are  undergoing  the 
process  of  fattening,  and  that  have  somewhat  too  suddenly  been  re* 
moved  from  scanty  pasturage  and  low  feeding  to  a profusion  of  herb 
age,  and  that  of  a nutritious  and  stimulating  kind.  The  disease 
sometimes  occurs  when  the  cattle  have  been  moved  from  one  pasturage 
to  another  on  the  same  farm  ; but  more  so  when  they  have  been 
brought  from  poor  land,  at  a distance,  to  a richer  soil.  There  are  in 
the  latter  case  two  preparatory  causes,  — the  previous  poverty,  and 
the  fatigue  and  exhaustion  of  the  journey. 

Farmers  may  endeavour  to  account  for  it,  if  they  please,  from  their 
beasts  having  fed  on  certain  acrimonious  or  poisonous  plants,  as  the 
different  species  of  the  crowfoot,  or  some  others ; but  there  cannot  be 
a moment’s  doubt  that  the  evil  is  to  be  traced  to  their  own  bad  ma- 
nagement, and  to  that  almost  alone.  I will  not  say  that  there  may 
not  be  some  atmospheric  agency.  The  blood  is  much  more  prevalent 
in  some  years  than  in  others,  and  more  fatal  when  it  does  occur;  but 
if  the  fact  is  carefully  examined,  rapid  vegetation  has  then  succeeded 
o a cold  and  thriftless  season,  and  thus  the  causes  of  which  I have 
spoken  have  been  more  powerfully  called  into  action,  while  the  influ 


THE  BLOOD,  &C.  7? 

ence  of  the  atmosphere  may  have  materially  modified  the  charactei 
of  the  disease  after  it  had  been  produced. 

In  examining  cattle  that  die  of  this  complaint  the  affected  part  or 
parts  are  found  mortified,  and  emit  a peculiar  cadaverous  smell;  and 
there  is  a glutinous  or  bloody  ichorous  fluid  of  a very  offensive  smell 
between  the  skin  and  flesh.  In  two  instances  I found  the  membranes 
of  the  brain  mortified,  being  here  and  there  of  a livid  colour,  and 
easily  torn. 

This  disease  rarely  admits  of  cure,  but  fortunately  it  may  in  general 
be  prevented.  If  the  malady  is  discovered  as  soon  as  it  makes  its 
appearance,  the  beast  should  be  immediately  housed,  and  then  from 
four  to  eight  quarts  of  blood  taken  away,  according  to  the  age  and 
size.  Two  hours  after  bleeding  give  the  following  purging  drink 
(No.  2,  p.  47),  which  will  be  found  of  a proper  strength  for  young 
cattle  from  the  age  of  one  to  two  years. 

The  bleeding  should  be  repeated  in  three  or  four  hours,  if  the 
animal  is  not  materially  relieved ; and  a third  bleeding  must  follow 
the  second,  if  the  fever  is  unabated.  There  must  be  no  child’s  play 
here ; the  disease  must  be  knocked  down  at  once,  or  it  will  inevitably 
destroy  the  beast.  The  physic  likewise  must  be  repeated  until  it  hsc 
its  full  effect. 

As  soon  as  the  bowels  are  well  opened,  the  fever  drink  (No.  1,  p. 
46)  should  be  administered,  and  repeated  morning,  noon,  and  night, 
all  food  except  a little  mash  being  removed. 

At  the  first  appearance  of  the  disease,  the  part  principally  affected 
should  be  fomented  several  times  in  the  course  of  the  day  with  hot 
water,  and  for  at  least  an  hour  each  time.  For  this  purpose  there 
should  be  two  or  three  large  pieces  of  flannel  in  the  water,  that  after 
one  of  them  has  been  applied  thoroughly  hot  and  dripping  to  the  part 
affected,  another  equally  hot  may  he  ready  when  this  gets  cold. 

As  soon  as  the  fever  begins  evidently  to  subside,  and  the  beast  is 
more  himself,  and  eats  a little,  the  fever  medicine  must  not  be  pushed 
too  far.  It  should  be  remembered  that  this  is  a case  of  highly  in- 
flammatory disease,  which  soon  passes  over,  and  is  often  succeeded 
by  debility  almost  as  dangerous  as  the  fever.  The  ox,  therefore,  must 
not  be  too  mubh  iowered ; but,  the  fever  abating,  the  following  min- 
gled tonic  and  fever  medicine  should  be  given : — 

RECIPE  (No.  33). 

Mildest  Tonic  Drink.— Take  gentian,  two  drachms;  emetic  tartar,  half  a diachm 
nitre,  half  an  ounce;  spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  half  an  ounce.  Give  in  gruel. 

If  this  does  not  bring  *back  the  fever,  it  may  be  safely  continued 
once  every  day  until  the  ox  is  well ; or  the  quantities  of  the  gentian 
may  be  increased,  and  the  emetic  tartar  lessened,  and  at  length  alto- 
gether omitted,  the  nitre  being  still  retained. 

A seton  (of  black  hellebore  root  if  it  can  be  procured)  should  bo 
inserted  into  the  dewlap;  and,  if  the  beast  can  be  moved,  it  should 
be  driven  to  much  scantier  pasture. 

Should  not  the  disease  be  discovered  until  there  is  considerable 
7*  6 


78 


r 11 E BLOOD,  & C . 

swelling,  and  a crackling  noise  in  some  tumefied  part,  a cure  is  seldom 
effected.  Bleeding,  at  this  stage  of  the  complaint,  can  seldom  be 
•esorted  to,  or,  at  least,  one  moderate  bleeding  only  should  be  prac- 
tised, in  order  to  subdue  any  lurking  fever  that  may  remain.  If  a 
cure  is  in  these  cases  attempted,  the  drink  No.  13,  p.  54,  should  be 
given,  which  may  invigorate  the  system  by  its  cordial  and  tonic 
powers,  and  prevent  the  mortification  extending. 

The  swelled  parts  should  be  frequently  bathed  with  equal  portions 
of  vinegar  and  spirits  of  wine,  made  as  hot  as  the  hand  will  bear;  or, 
if  ulceration  seems  to  be  approaching,  slight  incisions  should  be 
effected  along  the  whole  extent  of  the  swelling,  and  the  part  bathed 
with  spirit  of  turpentine  made  hot. 

If  ulceration  has  commenced,  accompanied  by  the  peculiar  fcetor 
that  attends  the  disease,  the  wounds  should  be  first  bathed  with  a 
disinfectant  lotion. 

RECIPE  (No.  34). 

Disinfectant  Lotion.— Take  solution  of  chloride  of  lime  in  powder,  a quarter  of  an 
ounce  ; water,  a pint.  Mix. 

The  hot  spirit  of  turpentine  should  be  applied  immediately  after 
this,  and  continued  in  use  until  either  the  mortified  parts  have  slough- 
ed off*,  or  the  sore  begins  to  have  a healthy  appearance.  The  tincture 
of  aloes  or  Friar’s  balsam  may  then  follow. 

Since  so  little  can  be  done  in  the  way  of  cure,  we  next  anxiously 
inquire  whether  there  is  any  mode  of  prevention.  The  account  which 
I have  given  of  the  disease  immediately  suggests  the  prevention,  viz., 
to  beware  of  these  sudden  changes  of  pasture;  now  and  then  to  take 
a little  blood  from,  or  to  give  a dose  of  physic  to,  those  beasts  that 
are  thriving  unusually  rapidly,  and,  whenever  the  disease  breaks  out 
on  the  farm,  to  bleed  and  to  purge,  and  remove  to  shorter  and  scantier 
feed  every  animal  that  has  been  exposed  to  the  same  exciting  causes 
with  those  that  have  been  attacked.  The  farmer  should  be  particu- 
larly watchful  during  the  latter  part  of  the  spring  and  the  beginning 
of  the  autumn  : he  may  thus  save  many  a beast,  and  the  bleeding  and 
the  physic  will  not  arrest,  but  rather  assist  their  improvement.  He 
who  will  not  attend  to  a simple  rule  like  this  will  deserve  the  loss 
that  he  may  experience. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

MURRAIN,  OR  PESTILENTIAL  FEVER. 

This  is  not  the  fever  which  I have  just  described,  more  rapidly 
And  to  a greater  extent,  assuming  the  typhoid  and  malignant  form, 
although  there  is  a considerable  similarity  between  the  diseases,  bui 
it  is  distinguished  by  some  peculiar  and  fatal  characters.  It  has  from 
ime  to  time  destroyed  immense  numbers  ot  cattle  on  every  part  of 


MURRAIN,  OR  PESTILENTIAL  FEVER.  79 

the  continent  of  Europe.  Its  ravages  have  sometimes  been  dreadful 
in  Great  Britain.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1714  more  than  70,006 
cattle  died  of  this  pest  in  England. 

Fortunately  of  late  years  this  destructive  malady  has  been  compa- 
ratively unknown  among  us,  except  that  in  some  unfavourable  dis- 
tricts a few  cases  have  occurred  every  year.  Its  latest  visitation, 
clothed  with  all  its  most  dreadful  attributes,  was  in  1768.  It  is' thus 
described  by  Dr.  Layard,  an  intelligent  physician  of  that  period : — 
“ The  animal  was  found  with  its  head  extended,  that  its  laborious 
breathing  might  be  accomplished  with  less  dread  of  suffocation; 
.there  was  considerable  difficulty  in  swallowing  ; enlargement  of  the 
glands  under  the  ear,  and  frequently  swelling  of  the  whole  of  the 
head ; uneasiness  about  the  head ; seemingly  itchiness  about  the 
ears;  dulness;  frequent,  but  not  violent  heaving.  To  these  succeeded 
staggering  and  great  debility,  until  the  animal  fell,  and  was  after- 
wards either  unable  to  stand  long  at  a time,  or  to  stand  at  all.  A 
constant  discharge  of  green  bilious  stinking  faeces  now  appeared ; the 
breath  w*as  likewise  offensive;  the  very  perspiration  wras  sour  and 
putrid ; the  head  swelled  rapidly  ; the  tongue  protruded  from  the 
mouth;  and  the  saliva,  at  first  stinking,  but  afterwards  purulent, 
bloody,  and  more  and  more  offensive,  flowed  from  the  mouth.  A 
crackling  was  heard  under  the  skin  when  the  back  or  loins  were 
pressed  upon ; tumours  appeared,  and  abscesses  were  formed  in  va- 
rious parts  ; they  multiplied  and  they  spread,  and  discharged  a dread- 
fully stinking  fluid. 

“ By  And  by  a fresh  access  of  fever  seemed  to  supervene ; the 
breath  got  hot,  and  the  extremities  were  cold ; the  purging  increased, 
and  was  even  more  offensive;  the  urine  and  the  dung  excoriated  the 
neighbouring  parts  as  they  passed  away ; and  on  the  seventh  or  ninth 
day  the  animal  usually  died.” 

If  a milch  cow  was  attacked  her  milk  dried  up  gradually,  her 
purging  was  more  violent,  and  her  debility  more  rapid  than  that  of 
other  cattle.  Bulls  and  oxen  were  not  so  violently  seized  as  cows 
and  calves ; and  cows  with  calf,  and  weakly  cow-calves,  were  most 
in  danger.  If  cows  slipped  their  calves  they  usually  recovered. 
Calves  received  the  infection  from  the  cow,  and  the  calf,  on  the  other 
hand,  often  infected  the  cow. 

The  disease  was  epidemic.  It  depended  on  some  atmospheric  in- 
fluence, which  we  are  unable  to  understand  ; but  at  the  same  time  it 
was  contagious,  and  that  to  a very  great  degree.  If  it  once  appeared 
on  a farm,  almost  all  the  cattle  were  sure  to  be  affected : yet  it  was 
ascertained  that  the  power  of  infection  did  not  extend  more  than  a 
few  yards;  and  that  a hedge  alone  often  separated  the  dead  from  the 
living.  The  murrain  seemed  mostly  confined  to  cattle,  for  horses 
and  sheep,  and  swine  and  dogs,  lived  in  the  midst  of  the  infection 
and  escaped,  and  even  some  neat  cattle  seemed  to  possess  a security 
from  infection. 

The  favourable  symptoms  were  eruptions  on  various  parts  of  the 


80  MURRAIN,  OR  PESTILENTIAL  FEVER. 

oody,  not  indeed  too  numerous,  and  their  breaking  and  discharging  a 
considerable  quantity  of  purulent  matter.  If  from  exposure  to  cold, 
or  other  improper  treatment,  the  boils  were  repelled,  or  if  they  gra- 
dually lessened  and  disappeared,  death  was  an  almost  inevitable 
consequence.  If  the  dung  became  more  consistent,  and  the  urine  not 
so  highly  coloured,  and  the  mouth  cooler,  and  the  beast  began  to 
brighten  up,  and  look  a little  cheerfully  around  him,  there  was  hope; 
but  if  the  boils  receded,  and  the  scouring  became  constant,  and  the 
breath  was  hot,  and  the  horns  were  cold,  and  the  difficulty  of  breathing 
increased,  and  the  animal  groaned  at  every  motion;  if  the  eye  sunk, 
and  the  pulse  intermitted,  and  the  beast  was  almost  unconscious, 
and  a cadaverous  smell  proceeded  from  him,  it  was  seldom  that  he 
escaped. 

On  examination  after  death,  the  whole  of  the  cellular  texture  under 
the  skin  was  found  to  be  distended  either  by  air  or  a sanious  fluid, 
and  in  most  cases  partly  by  both.  The  air  rushed  out  when  the  skin 
was  punctured,  and  stunk  most  abominably;  and  the  cellular  texture 
and  the  muscles  were  rendered  livid  and  black  by  the  dark  fluid  which 
they  contained.  The  brain  and  its  membranes  were  inflamed,  and 
the  ventricles  filled  and  distended.  The  mouth  and  nose,  and  fauces 
and  throat,  and  the  frontal  sinuses  to  the  very  tip  of  the  horn,  were 
filled  with  ulcerations  and  with  pus.  The  lungs  were  inflamed  in 
patches,  and  filled  with  tubercles.  The  liver  was  large,  and  so  rotten 
that  it  was  torn  by  the  slightest  touch.  All  the  vessels  of  the  liver 
and  the  gall-bladder  were  gorged  with  greenish  fetid  bile.  The 
paunch  was  distended  with  wind,  and  undigested  and,  generally, 
hardened  food.  The  third  stomach  contained  between  its  leaves  a 
quantity  of  dry  and  hardened  food,  so  hard  and  brittle  that  it  might 
be  almost  powdered;  and  the  fourth  stomach,  or  rennet  bag,  was 
empty,  but  highly  inflamed  and  gangrened  in  various  places.  The 
intestines  were  also  beset  with  livid  and  black  spots.  The  uterus 
of  those  that  were  in  calf  was  gangrened,  and  the  smell  from  the  fluid 
which  it  contained  was  almost  insufferable. 

It  seemed  to  be  a high  degree  of  fever,  which  had  speedily  run  on 
to  a typhoid  and  malignant  form,  and  by  which  every  part  of  the 
frame  was  poisoned. 

We  have  not  for  a long  while  been  visited  to  any  great  extent  by 
this  malady,  and  should  it  again  occur,  the  veterinary  art  is  far  more 
advanced  than  it  was  many  years  ago,  and  there  is  reason  to  hope 
that  it  would  not  be  so  destructive  as  in  times  past. 

The  treatment  would  be,  first,  and  the  most  important  thing  of  all, 
to  separate  the  diseased  from  the  sound  : to  remove  every  animal  that 
seemed  to  be  in  the  slightest  degree  affected  to  some  isolated  portion 
of  the  farm  where  contact  with  others  would  be  impossible.  It  would 
be  imprudent  to  remove  those  that  appeared  to  be  unaffected,  because 
it  would  be  impossible  to  know  that  the  virus  did  not  lurk  in  their 
''©ins,  and  thus  the  poison  might  be  conveyed  to  other  parts  of  the 


MURRAIN,  OR  PESTILENTIAL  FEVER.  61 

farm.  The  sick  only  should  be  taken  away,  and  that  as  speedily  as 
possible. 

In  the  early  stage  of  the  disease  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  pro- 
priety of  bleeding.  The  fever,  which,  according  to  every  account, 
characterises  the  first  attack,  should,  if  possible,  be  subdued  ; other- 
wise its  prolonged  existence  would  aggravate,  if  it  did  not  cause,  the 
subsequent  debility.  The  animal  should  be  bled,  in  proportion  to  his 
size,  condition,  and  the  degree  of  fever : he  should  be  bled,  in  fact, 
until  the  pulse  began  to  falter  or  he  began  to  stagger.  The  blood 
should  be  taken  in  as  full  a stream  as  possible,  that  the  constitution 
might  be  more  speedily  and  beneficially  affected.  When  the  blood 
flows  slowly,  a quantity  may  sometimes  be  taken  away  before  the 
animal  begins  to  feel  it,  the  loss  of  which  would  afterwards  produce 
alarming  debility;  but  if  the  blood  flows  freely,  the  beast  will  show 
symptoms  of  faintness  — the  effect  we  wish  to  produce  — before  one- 
fourth  of  the  quantity  is  drawn  that  would  be  lost  if  it  ran  in  a slow 
stream.  We  want  to  attack  and  subdue  the  fever,  without  under- 
mining the  strength  of  the  frame. 

Then  we  should  with  great  propriety  administer  a brisk  purgative. 
If  fetid  and  obstinate  purging  so  soon  follows,  we  should  be  anxious 
to  get  rid,  if  we  can  do  so,  of  a portion  of  the  offending  matter;  and 
therefore  a pound  or  twenty  ounces  of  Epsom  salts  should  be  given 
in  a sufficient  quantity  of  thin  gruel. 

Next,  as  it  is  a disease  so  much  and  so  early  characterised  by  de- 
bility, we  should  attend  to  the  diet.  Green  succulent  grass  would 
scarcely  be  allowed,  because  it  would  probably  not  a little  increase 
the  purging;  but  mashes  of  bran,  with  a little  bean-meal,  carrots,  or 
sweet  old  hay,  should  be  given  in  moderate  quantities.  The  animal 
should  be  coaxed  to  eat;  for  it  is  necessary  that  the  constitution  be 
supported  against  the  debilitating  influence  of  such  a disease.  The 
animal  should  not  be  at  first  drenched,  for  this  might  produce  nausea 
and  disgust  for  food ; but  if  two  or  three  days  should  pass,  and  the 
beast  should  obstinately  refuse  to  eat,  plenty  of  warm  thick  gruel 
must  be  forced  upon  him.  As  for  medicine,  I scarcely  know  what  to 
advise.  The  fact  stands  too  clearly  upon  record,  that  nineteen  animals 
out  of  twenty,  seized  with  the  murrain,  have  died.  That  on  which  I 
should  put  most  dependence  would  be  the  following : — 

RECIPE  (No.  35). 

Drink  for  Murrain.— Take  sweet  spirit  of  nitre,  half  an  ounce;  laudanum,  half 
an  ounce  ; chloride  of  lime,  in  powder,  two  ounces;  prepared  chalk,  an  ounce.  Rub 
them  well  together,  and  give  them  with  a pint  of  warm  gruel. 

This  may  be  repeated  every  six  hours,  until  the  purging  is  consi- 
derably abated ; but  should  not  be  continued  until  it  has  quite 
stopped. 

The  purging  being  abated,  we  must  look  about  for  something  to 
recall  the  appetite  and  recruit  the  strength,  and  I do  not  know  any 
thing  better  than  the  following : — 


82  murrain,  or  pestilential  fever 

RECIPE  (No.  36). 

Tonic  Drink  for  Murrain.— Take  columba  root,  two  drachms ; canella  bark,  tw« 
drachms;  ginger,  one  drachm  ; sweet  spirit  of  nitre,  half  an  ounce.  Rub  them  toge* 
Iher,  and  give  in  a pint  of  thick  gruel. 

There  cannot  be  a more  proper  means  adopted  than  a seton  in  the 
dewlap,  made  with  the  black  hellebore  root.  The  mouth  should  be 
frequently  washed  with  a dilute  solution  of  the  chloride  of  lime.  The 
ulcerated  parts,  if  they  are  fetid,  should  have  the  same  disinfectant 
applied  to  them,  and  the  walls  and  ceiling,  and  every  part  of  the  cow- 
house, should  be  washed  with  it. 

One  caution  should  be  used  with  respect  to  the  food ; while  the 
beast  should  be  coaxed  to  eat,  in  order  to  support  him  under  the  de- 
bilitating influence  of  the  disease,  it  is  only  on  the  supposition  that 
he  ruminates  his  food.  Until  he  begins  again  to  chew  the  cud,  we 
are  only  injuriously  overloading  the  paunch  by  enticing  the  animal  to 
eat.  Until  rumination  is  re-established,  the  food  should  consist  of 
gruel,  or  any  other  nutritive  fluid,  and  should  be  so  administered  that 
the  greater  part  of  it  may  pass  on  into  the  fourth  stomach,  without 
entering  the  first.  When  the  animal  appears  to  be  recovering,  he 
should  be  gradually  exposed  to  cool  and  open  air,  and  very  slowly 
permitted  to  return  to  his  usual  food. 

When  the  disease  is  quite  subdued,  the  cleansing  of  the  cow-house 
should  be  seriously  undertaken,  and  thoroughly  accomplished.  Let 
every  portion  of  filth  and  dung  be  carefully  removed,  the  walls,  and 
the  wood-work,  and  the  floor  carefully  washed  with  water,  or  soap 
and  water,  and  then  every  part  washed  again  with  a lotion,  in  the 
proportion  of  a quarter  of  a pound  of  the  chloride  of  lime,  in  powder, 
to  a bucket  of  water.  This  will  be  better  than  any  fumigation  that 
can  be  possibly  applied.  Should,  however,  the  chloride  of  lime  not 
be  at  hand,  then  a simple  and  cheap  fumigation,  on  which  very  con- 
siderable dependence  can  be  placed,  may  be  resorted  to. 

RECIPE  (No.  37). 

Fumigation. — Take  common  salt,  two  pounds;  oil  of  vitriol,  one  pound. 

The  salt  should  be  put  in  an  earthen  vessel,  and  placed  in  the 
middle  of  the  cow-house,  and  the  oil  of  vitriol  gradually  poured  upon 
it.  They  should  be  stirred  well  together  with  a stick,  and  the  person 
preparing  the  thing  should  retreat  as  quickly  as  he  can,  to  prevent 
himself  from  suffering  by  the  fumes  of  the  chloride,  closing  the  dooi 
carefully  after  him,  every  window  and  aperture  having  been  previously 
closed.  In  a few  hours  he  may  enter  the  cow-house  again,  and  remove 
the  vessel  without  any  serious  inconvenience. 

There  is  every  reason  to  hope  that  the  murrain  will  never  again 
thin  our  herds  of  cattle  to  any  great  extent,  not  only  because  veteri 
nary  science  is  so  much  advanced,  and  the  farmer  can  have  imme- 
diate recourse  to  the  assistance  of  a skilful  practitioner,  but  because 
agriculture  has  been  so  much  improved  within  the  last  century,  and 
particularly  that  important  and  most  beneficial  system  of  under- 


MURRAIN,  OR  PESTILENTIAL  FEVER.  83 

draining  has  been  introduced.  When  the  murrain  so  sadly  prevailed 
in  foreign  countries,  and  in  England,  it  uniformly  commenced  in,  and 
was  chiefly  confined  to,  some  low  marshy  district.  This  was  parti- 
cularly the  case  in  the  murrain  which  prevailed  in  France  in  1779. 
It  was  principally  confined  to  the  low  meadows  and  marshes,  and  it 
appeared  soon  after  an  unusual  inundation  had  subsided.  In  Italy, 
where  the  murrain  has  been  more  prevalent  and  fatal  than  in  any 
other  country,  it  always  commences  in  some  of  the  extensive  and 
pestilential  marshes  with  which  the  Italian  coast  abounds.  In  the 
account  of  a pestilence  that  carried  off  thousands  of  cattle  in  Hun- 
gary, it  is  said  that  the  spring  had  been  rainy,  with  great  changes  in 
the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere.  This  will  afford  a useful  hint  to 
the  farmer  as  to  the  system  of  agriculture  he  should  pursue,  and  the 
situation  to  which  he  should,  if  possible,  remove  his  cattle  when  any 
pestilential  disease  breaks  out.  The  infected  cattle,  and  the  herd 
generally,  should  not  only  be  removed  to  some  rather  elevated  and 
dry  situation,  but  sheltered  as  much  as  possible  from  the  sudden 
variations  of  the  external  air,  at  least  by  night. 

It  is  to  be  hoped,  too,  that  some  legislative  provision  will  be  made 
to  prevent  as  much  as  possible  the  spread  of  the  disease  ; that  every 
animal  seriously  affected  shall  be  immediately  consigned  to  the 
slaughter,  and  that  no  portion  of  the  hide  or  carcass  shall  by  any 
means  be  permitted  to  be  used,  but  the  whole  deeply  and  speedily 
buried. 

When  the  murrain  was  so  prevalent  in  Holland,  and  it  seemed  as 
if  every  beast  was  destined  to  fall  a victim  to  it,  some  speculative 
men  had  recourse  to  inoculation.  The  matter  discharged  from  the 
nostrils,  or  from  an  ulcer  of  a beast  not  apparently  affected  with  any 
very  virulent  form  of  the  disease,  was  inserted  under  the  skin  of  a 
sound  animal.  The  disease  was  produced,  sure  enough,  but  with 
very  doubtful  and  often  lamentable  effect.  In  some  cases  a worse 
malady  was  induced.  In  a few  it  was  materially  mitigated ; a consi- 
derable proportion  still  died,  and  doubtless  some  who  would  have 
escaped  the  disease  had  it  not  been  for  the  inoculation. 

[Extract  of  a letter  to  the  American  Editor  from  J.  E.  O.  Kennedy , Meadville , Penn 
sylvania. 

“ I received  some  months  since,  from  a Hollander  who  purchased  a farm  a few 
years  since  in  my  neighbourhood,  some  powders  for  the  cure  of  murrain  in  cattle. 
After  having  resided  here  a few  years,  the  frequency  of  this  disease  induced  him  to 
send  to  Holland  for  the  medicine  mentioned,  and  which  he  avers  was  a certain 
remedy  there  within  his  own  knowledge.  The  receipt  for  its  manufacture  is  a secret , 
and  lodged  with  one  family  in  the  Hague.  Its  reputation  in  Holland  is  very  exten- 
sive. Mr.  Koehler,  who  gave  me  the  article,  is  a remarkably  intelligent  man,  noted 
for  his  correct  agricultural  taste  and  knowledge  among  his  friends,  and  I perfectly 
rely  on  his  veracity.  He  would  say  nothing  that  he  did  not  believe  true;  and  as  a 
proof  of  his  standing  in  his  own  country,  I might  mention  his  having  received,  from 
a nobleman  of  Holland  an  invitation  to  become  the  manager  of  an  extensive  estate 
In  that  country,  and  the  inducement  such,  that  he  has  rented  his  farm  and  gone  to 


EPIDEMIC  OF  1840  AND  1841 


84 

Hoi. and  with  his  family.  Before  Mr.  Koehler  left  this  country  he  gave  me  some  of  th« 
powders,  and  I have  thought  that  possibly  the  chief  ingredients  might  be  detected  b, 
the  experiments  of  an  accomplished  chemist.  If  you  will  undertake  the  task  of 
naving  them  submitted  to  the  tests  of  such  a person,  I will  send  you  a sufficient 
quantity  to  make  trial  with.  If  the  experiments  should  result  successfully,  and  the 
medicine  prove  valuable,  the  labour  would  be  well  expended,  as  I know  of  no  certain 
:>r  plausible  cure  for  murrain  in  cattle,  a disease  occasioning  the  loss  of  *housandi 
annually  in  this  country.  The  principal  part  of  the  article  (whether  the  virtuous 
portion  or  not  I cannot  say)  is  mineral— judging  from  the  weight.” 

Another  extract.— 41  I send  you  two  papers  of  the  murrain  powder,  being  two  doses. 
For  fear  of  mistake  1 wrote  the  directions  on  them  when  a received  them.” 

The  two  powders  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  Professor  Benjamin  Hallowell— as 
eminent  for  scientific  attainments  as  he  is  remarkable  for  simplicity  of  manners  and 
benevolence  of  heart.  In  a few  days  he  was  good  enough  to  return  the  powder,  with 
an  exact  duplicate  of  it,  and  the  following  memorandum: — “The  powder  contains 
380  grains ; it  is  composed  of  340  grains  of  nitrate  of  potash  (salt-petre)  and  40  grains 
of  bole  armenian  intimately  mixed”  — be  it  remembered  that  the  above  quantity 
makes  two  doses  — and  the  directions  are:  “dissolve  in  a pint  of  water.”  It  will  be 
easy  to  try  a remedy  so  strongly  and  plausibly  recommended  ; and,  if  found  effectual, 
the  public  will  owe  an  obligation  to  all  who  may  assist  in  diffusing  a knowledge 
of  it. 

Thus  we  come  at  the  following  recipe  for  murrain  .—Take  nitrate  of  potash,  170 
grains ; bole  armenian,  20  grains.  Dissolve  in  a pint  of  water,  and  give.  — S.] 


CHAPTER  XXL 

THE  EPIDEMIC  OF  1840  AND  1841. 

Since  the  last  edition  of  this  work  was  published  a new  disease 
has  appeared  amongst  cattle  and  sheep,  and  for  the  last  two  years  it 
has  spread  through  the  kingdom  as  an  epidemic,  scarcely  sparing  a 
single  parish  from  its  visitation.  Though  not  by  any  means  usually 
fatal  in  its  effects,  it  has  yet  altogether  destroyed  a great  number, 
and  the  pecuniary  loss  has  been  still  greater  from  the  debilitating 
effects  which  it  has  produced  or  left  behind.  It  has  been  proved  to 
be  extremely  infectious,  and  it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the  greater 
number  of  cases  have  been  thus  produced  or  spontaneously  occasioned. 
It  has  sometimes  appeared  amongst  the  cattle  of  a farm,  scarcely 
sparing  a single  case;  and  again,  after  some  months’  absence,  it  has 
re-appeared  on  the  same  farm  amongst  the  sheep,  or  perhaps  the 
swine.  In  some  cases,  and  on  some  occasions,  the  symptoms  of  the 
disease  have  been  very  slight,  and  the  cases  have  soon  got  well  with- 
out any  medical  treatment ; but  in  other  cases  the  symptoms  have 
k«*en  extremely  severe,  and  attended  with  danger.  It  has  usually 
happened  that  the  earlier  and  the  later  cases  have  been  somewhat 
slight,  and  the  middle  ones  much  more  dangerous.  In  this  respect  it 


EPIDEMIC  OP  1840  AND  1841. 


85 


has  resembled  other  epidemics.  The  cause  of  this  disease  is  altoge 
ther  unknown:  it  is  probably  owing  to  some  atmospheric  agency 
the  nature  of  which  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain. 

The  disease  is  decidedly  constitutional,  though  manifesting  itself 
’ocally  in  a peculiar  manner:  its  nature  is  that  of  a low  fever,  greaj 
debility  quickly  supervening,  and  sometimes  exhibiting  a tendency  to 
uutridity.  If  the  very  earliest  symptoms  are  observed,  it  will  gener- 
ally be  found  that  cold  extremities,  a staring  coat,  and  indeed  a cold 
fit  is  exhibited ; but  a reaction  soon  follows,  in  which  the  limbs  be- 
come hot,  and  then  saliva  issues  from  the  mouth,  and  the  tongue  is 
somewhat  swollen.  At  the  same  time  some  degree  of  tenderness  in 
the  feet  is  manifested,  and  the  pulse  is  quickened  and  the  beast  is 
altogether  feverish.  The  soreness  of  the  mouth  and  feet  increases, 
small  bladders  are  found  on  the  tongue,  the  lips  and  other  parts  of 
.he  mouth,  and  likewise  between  the  hoofs,  and  sometimes  also  on 
ths  teats.  The  animal  gradually  ceases  to  feed,  from  the  pain  expe- 
rienced in  the  act,  and  sometimes  the  appetite  itself  fails.  The  blad- 
ders become  opaque,  and  at  length  burst  and  discharge  a watery 
fluid ; and  this  increases  the  soreness  of  the  parts.  The  flow  of  saliva 
increases,  and  in  a few  days  the  cuticle  sloughs  off.  Sometimes  there 
are  swellings  along  the  back  and  loins,  which  appear  to  contain  air. 
The  disease  thus  continues,  becoming  gradually  more  severe  until 
four  or  five  days  from  the  commencement,  when  amendment  generally 
takes  place,  and  the  beast  gradually  -ecovers.  Sometimes,  however, 
the  complaint  becomes  complicated  with  inflammation  of  some  organ 
— such  as  the  lungs,  and  the  danger  is  then  much  greater,  or  it  may 
take  on  a low  typhoid  form,  under  which  the  animal  may  sink.  In 
milch  cows  the  udder  is  often  affected,  occasionally  much  inflamed, 
and  attended  with  danger. 

The  treatment  of  this  disease  must  be  moderate  in  its  character,  and 
should  consist  in  checking  the  fever,  relaxing  the  bowels,  healing  the 
sores  on  the  mouth  and  feet,  and  afterwards  assisting  the  strength 
with  tonics. 

Bleeding  should  in  general  be  abstained  from,  unless  there  is  some 
severe  local  inflammation  present,  calculated  to  increase  the  debility; 
but  the  following  laxative  should  be  administered  without  loss  of 
time : — 

RECIPE  (No.  38). 

Take  epsom  salts,  half  a pound  ; sulphur,  two  or  four  ounces ; nitre,  half  an  ounce  ; 
ginger,  two  drachms;  spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  one  ounce.  Dissolved  in  warm  water 
or  gruel,  and  repeated  once  a day  for  several  days. 

The  following  liniment  may  be  applied  to  the  mouth  several  times 
a day : — 

RECIPE  (No.  39). 

Take  alum  and  white  vitriol,  of  each  half  an  ounce ; treacle,  a quarter  of  a pint. 
Dissolved  in  a pint  of  warm  water. 

The  feet  should  be  carefully  pared,  and  if  much  inflamed  a poultice 
may  be  applied ; but  if  not  so,  and  there  is  a sore,  equal  parts  of 
8 


6 EPIDEMIC  OP  1840  AND  1841. 

tincture  ot  myrrh  and  butyr  of  antimony.  One  application  of  this 
caustic  is  generally  sufficient,  and  the  sore  shouJd  afterwards  be 
dressed  once  a day  with  the  following: — 

RECIPE  (No.  40). 

Astringent  Powder.-^ Tatte  olue  vitriol,  powdered,  half  an  ounce;  powdered  alum 
half  an  ounce;  prepared  chalk,  two  ounces;  armenian  bole,  one  ounce.  Mix. 

Linked  and  oatmeal  gruel  should  be  offered  to  drink,  and  mashes 
with  the  best  food  that  can  be  procured.  If  the  weather  is  fine,  it 
will  be* better  to  continue  the  cattle  at  grass;  but  if  housed,  ney 
should  be  kept  clean  and  dry.  When  the  bowels  are  relaxed  end 
there  appears  much  weakness,  the  following  tonic  should  be  / f i 
daily : — 

RECIPE  (No.  41). 

Take  powdered  ginger,  one  drachm ; powdered  caraway  seeds,  one  dracNu  gen- 
tian, powdered,  four  drachms;  spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  one  ounce.  To  tie  mixed 
slowly  with  gruel. 

If  there  should  be  any  appearance  of  colic  or  spasm  of  the  bowels, 
an  ounce  of  laudanum  may  be  given  with  the  other  medicine;  and  if 
the  liver  is  affected,  a drachm  of  calomel  may  be  added,  and  a blis- 
tering application  rubbed  on  the  right  side. 

Should  the  lungs  be  inflamed,  it  will  be  proper  to  bleed  and  blister 
the  sides,  or  insert  setons  in  the  brisket.  If  the  udder  is  affected,  it 
should  be  well  and  frequently  fomented  with  hot  water,  and  the  milk 
should  be  drawn  with  great  care. 

The  epidemic  has  sometimes  appeared  amongst  sheep  in  so  slight 
a form  that  they  get  well  without  assistance,  or  simply  by  the  appli- 
cation of  tar  to  the  feet,  no  other  part  being  affected.  At  other  times, 
however,  its  appearance  has  been  far  more  severe ; the  hoofs  in  many 
cases  have  come  off,  from  the  formation  of  matter  underneath,  and 
the  poor  animals  have  been  altogether  unable  to  stand.  The  mouth, 
however,  in  these  animals  is  rarely  affected,  and  the  appetite  there- 
fore is  not  greatly  impaired.  In  wet  weather  the  disease  is  more 
severe  than  in  dry,  and  the  feet  are  sometimes  so  bad  as  to  resemble 
the  worst  form  of  foot  rot. 

The  feet  will  therefore,  in  sheep,  require  the  principal  attention. 
Vhe  detached  horn  should  be  sufficiently  cut  away  to  afford  exit  to 
any  matter  that  may  be  under ; but  the  knife  must  be  used  with  cau- 
tion and  sparingly,  as  fungus  flesh  is  so  apt  to  grow  when  the  horn 
is  removed. 

The  same  medicine  recommended  for  cattle  should  here  be  em- 
ployed, and  the  powder  will  be  particularly  useful.  It  will  be  desi- 
rable, unless  the  symptoms  are  slight,  to  administer  the  internal 
medicine,  one-sixth  or  one-eighth  part  Veing  sufficient  for  the  sheep* 
and  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  continue  its  use  so  long. 

Pigs  may  be  treated  in  a similar  ma/iner. 


INFLAMMATION  OF  TIIE  BLADDER. 


87 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BLADDER. 

This  disease  does  not  often  occur  in  cattle,  except  from  eating 
acrid  and  poisonous  herbs,  or  when  cows  are  near  their  time  of  calv- 
ing. In  the  first  case,  there  are  frequent  and  violent,  but  ineffectual, 
efforts  to  stale.  There  is  true  and  proper  inflammation  of  the  neck  of 
the  bladder.  This  may  be  occasioned  by  cold,  but  is  more  frequently 
produced  by  the  animal  having  fed  on  heathy  pastures,  and  on  the 
hot  and  stimulating  plants  that  abound  there.  The  broom  is  a fre- 
quent cause  of  this  disease. 

It  is  of  much  consequence  to  be  enabled  to  distinguish  this  from 
inflammation  of  the  bladder  itself.  In  the  early  stage  of  inflamma- 
tion of  the  neck  of  the  bladder  no  urine  will  be  voided,  while  it  will 
be  discharged  much  more  frequently  than  usual,  and  apparently  in 
larger  quantities  in  true  inflammation  of  the  bladder ; and  when  at 
length,  in  inflammation  of  the  neck  of  the  bladder,  urine  is  voided,  it 
is  after  much  straining,  and  is  evidently  and  forcibly  squeezed  out 
from  the  over-distended  but  closed  vessels.  The  most  certain  way, 
however,  of  distinguishing  the  one  from  the  other,  is  to  introduce  the 
hand  into  the  rectum ; the  distended  bladder  will  then  be  plainly  felt 
below.  It  may  sometimes  be  detected  by  examination  of  the  outside 
of  the  belly. 

The  course  to  be  pursued  is  sufficiently  plain  — the  bladder  must 
be  emptied,  or  more  fluid  will  pour  into  it  until  it  actually  bursts 
For  some  time  before  the  fatal  termination  of  the  complaint  in  the 
rupture  of  the  bladder,  not  only  the  constant  straining,  but  the  heav 
ing  of  the  flanks,  the  quickness  of  the  pulse,  the  loss  of  appetite,  the 
cessation  of  rumination,  and  the  shivering  fits,  will  sufficiently  indi- 
cate the  extent  of  the  danger.  The  better  way  of  emptying  the  blad- 
der is,  if  possible,  to  relax  the  spasm  of  its  neck.  It  is  the  spasmodic 
action  of  the  sphincter  muscle  of  the  neck  of  the  bladder  that  is  the 
cause  of  the  obstruction.  A very  large  bleeding  will  sometimes  ac- 
complish this ; but  it  must  be  a large  one,  and  continued  until  the 
animal  is  exhausted  almost  to  fainting. 

To  bleeding,  physic  should  succeed,  in  order  to  lower  the  system, 
and  relax  the  spasm;  but  no  medicine  must  be  given  that  would  in 
the  slightest  degree  increase  the  flow  of  urine.  Sulphur,  or  aloes,  or 
both  combined,  would  be  indicated  here. 

Should  not  the  flow  of  urine  be  re-established,  mechanical  means 
must  be  resorted  to.  Here  a skilful  practitioner  should  be  consulted. 
The  water  may  be  readily  drawn  from  the  cow  by  a catheter ; but  in 
the  ox,  from  the  curvature  of  the  penis,  this  would  be  a very  difficult 
affair.  Some  have  recommended  to  cut  down  upon  the  penis,  behind 
the  bag,  and  lay  open  the  urethra,  and  so  pass  a catheter  into  the 


86  INFLAMMATION  OF  1'IIE  BLADDER. 


bladder ; but  this  will  produce  a wound,  difficult  to  heal  from  the  pa& 
sage  and  excoriation  of  the  urine.  Others  would  puncture  the  blad 
der  through  the  rectum,  and  others  through  the  belly;  but  both  ope- 
rations may  be  accompanied  and  followed  by  various  unpleasant 
circumstances. 

The  catheter  lately  invented  by  Mr.  Read,  and  which,  by  curiously 
accommodating  itself  to  the  curvature  of  the  urethra  in  the  horse,  will 
readily  enter  the  bladder  and  evacuate  it  without  any  painful  or  dan- 
gerous operation,  is  not  applicable  to  the  ox,  at  least  in  common 
hands;  for  there  is  a double  curvature  in  his  penis  and  urethra, 
through  which  no  catheter,  however  flexible,  will  pass.  A good 
veterinary  anatomist,  however,  will  overcome  this  difficulty;  and  to 
him,  or  to  one  well  skilled  in  his  profession,  the  proprietor  of  cattle 
should  have  recourse  in  such  a case. 

The  farmer,  nevertheless,  having  fully  ascertained  the  nature  of 
the  case,  may  often  evacuate  a great  portion  of  the  urine  in  a very 
simple  way.  The  bladder  of  the  ox  lies  more  in  the  pelvis  than  does 
that  of  the  horse — it  is  more  easily  felt  than  in  the  horse — it  is  more 
readily  pressed  upon  by  the  hand — and  the  muscle  at  the  neck  of  the 
bladder  is  much  weaker : so  that  the  hand  being  introduced  into  the 
anus,  and  gentle  pressure  made  upon  the  bladder,  a great  quantity, 
or  almost  the  whole,  of  the  urine  may  be  forced  out,  without  danger. 

A catheter  may  be  introduced  into  the  bladder  of  a cow  without 
difficulty. 

Inflammation  of  the  bladder  itself  is  a disease  more  frequent,  and 
from  the  same  causes,  namely,  cold  and  acrid  herbs.  Here  the  ani- 
mal should  be  bled  and  physicked,  and  fomented  across  the  loins, 
and  every  diuretic  medicine  carefully  avoided.  The  following  drink 
may  be  administered  with  good  effect,  after  the  bleeding  and 
purging  — 

RECIPE  (No.  42). 

Drink  for  Inflammation  of  the  Bladder.  — Take,  antimonial  powder,  two  drachms  ; 
powdered  opium,  one  scruple:  rub  them  well  together  with  a small  portion  of  very 
thick  gruel,  and  repeat  the  dose  morning  and  night. 


It  should  not,  however,  be  forgotten,  that  in  cows  that  are  near 
parturition  this  discharge  of  urine  is  not  unfrequent,  and  arises  from 
irritation  of  the  bladder,  caused  by  the  pressure  of  the  foetus,  or  from 
sympath)*-  with  the  uterus,  now  much  excited, — and  not  from  actual 
inflammation.  When  she  has  calved,  this  wTill  gradually  cease ; or 
a dose  of  salts,  followed  by  one  'vr  twTo  of  the  powders  just  recom- 
mended, will  afford  immediate  and  considerable  relief.  In  some 
cows  this  incontinence  of  urine  has  been  produced  by  the  retention 
of  a dead  calf  in  the  womb  beyond  the  natural  period,  and  it  being 
at  the  same  time  in  a state  of  putrefaction.  The  mingled  influence 
of  long-continued  pressure,  and  of  proximity  to  a large  body  in  a state 
of  decomposition,  will  occasionally  produce  a state  of  extreme  irrita- 
bility. The  animal  should  have  warm  mashes  once  or  twice  daily. 

Connected  with  this  is  a not  unfrequent  disease,  and  especially  in 
the  summer,  and  in  cows  in  high  condition,  namely : — 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  SHAPE. 


89 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  SHAPE. 

The  external  parts  are  very  much  swollen,  and  pustules  or  boils 
appear  about  them,  that  break  and  discharge  much  matter ; and  there 
is  also  a considerable  discharge  of  glairy  fluid  from  the  vagina. 

This  sometimes  occurs  after  difficult  calving,  or  from  taking  cold 
when  the  calving  has  been  easy  and  natural : it  has  occasionally  fol- 
lowed bulling,  and  it  has  been  seen  at  other  times,  and  arises  from 
causes  that  could  not  be  ascertained.  Every  action  of  the  animal 
shows  that  she  labours  under  extreme  irritation,  and  suffers  a great 
deal. 

She  should  be  bled  and  physicked.  It  will  often  be  advisable  to 
give  a second  dose  of  the  physic,  after  an  interval  of  three  days.  The 
shape  should  be  well  fomented  several  times  in  the  day  with  warm 
water,  until  the  swelling  begins  to  diminish.  A common  goulard- 
wash,  consisting  of  one  ounce  of  the  extract  of  lead  to  a quart  of 
water,  with  the  addition  of  an  ounce  of  spirit  of  wine,  will  then  be 
serviceable. 

An  unpleasant  gleet  will  often  remain  for  a considerable  time  after 
the  swelling  has  subsided  and  the  ulcers  have  healed.  An  astringent 
injection  will  then  be  useful.  The  one  that  should  be  first  tried  is 
composed  of  six  ounces  of  bruised  oak  bark,  boiled  in  two  quarts  of 
water  until  it  is  reduced  to  three  pints.  If  this  should  not  succeed,  a 
solution  of  alum,  in  the  proportion  of  a quarter  of  an  ounce  to  a quart 
of  water,  may  be  tried.  A common  injection  syringe,  of  tolerably 
large  size,  will  be  the  best  instrument  for  throwing  up  the  injection. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

STONE  IN  THE  URINARY  PASSAGES,  OR  BLADDER. 

There  seems  to  be  a greater  disposition  to  the  formation  and  reten- 
tion of  calculi,  or  stones,  in  the  urinary  passages  of  the  ox,  than  of 
the  horse.  The  manner  in  which  cattle  gather  their  food,  the  half- 
cutting, and  half-tearing,  by  which  the  roots  of  a portion  at  least  of 
the  herbage  are  taken  into  the  mouth  and  swallowed,  and  the  pro- 
pensity which  almost  all  cattle  have  to  swallow  earth,  in  order  t* 
prevent  the  acid  fermentation  of  the  food  in  the  paunch — these  things 
account  for  the  more  frequent  collection  of  sand  and  gravel  in  the 
bladder  of  cattle  than  of  horses 

This  sand  and  gravel  is  the  foundation  of,  or  the  preparation  for, 
the  future  formation  of  stone  in  the  bladder;  and  when  the  stone 
begins  to  form,  it  is  far  more  likely  to  be  detained,  and  to  accumulate 
in  size,  in  the  bladder  of  the  ox,  than  that  of  the  horse,  because  the 
urethra  is  very  much  smaller  and  more  curved  in  its  course, 
g* 


90  STONE  IN  THE  URINARY  PASSAGES. 

Stone  in  the  bladder  may  be  suspected,  when  there  is  much  love 
accompanied  by  a frequent  turning  of  the  head,  and  earnest  gaze  I,* 
the  flanks;  when  the  hind  limbs  tremble,  and  there  are  ineffectual 
endeavours  to  pass  urine,  or  it  is  evacuated  hi  small  quantities,  and 
mingled  with  blood. 

The  suspicion  may  very  easily  be  reduced  to  certainty,  by  examin- 
ing the  bladder  with  the  hand  introduced  into  the  rectum,  or  last  gut. 
The  bladder  of  the  ox,  as  has  already  been  described,  lying  so  much 
more  in  the  pelvis  than  the  bladder  of  the  horse  does,  the  stone  cannot 
fail  of  being  felt  if  there  is  one. 

The  presence  of  stone  in  the  bladder  having  been  thus  proved,  tha 
farmer  will  pursue  the  most  judicious  course  who  sends  the  beae 
immediately  to  the  butcher ; for  no  medicine  will  dissolve  it,  and  t' 
animal  will  lose  condition  every  day. 

A skilful  veterinarian  is  able,  indeed,  to  remove  the  stone  by  ne 
operation  of  lithotomy:  but  he  must  well  understand  the  anatom*  oJ 
cattle;  and,  after  all,  the  operation  would  be  attended  with  sorr.e 
danger  and  considerable  expense. 

The  retention  of  a small  calculus  in  some  part  of  the  urethra  occurs 
much  oftener  than  is  generally  suspected.  The  symptoms  would  be 
nearly  the  same  as  those  of  stone  in  the  bladder,  except  that  the  stop- 
page of  urine  would  be  more  complete.  On  examination,  the  stone 
will  be  easily  felt,  and  generally  in  the  double  curvature  of  the  penis 
An  incision  may  be  made  upon  it,  and  it  may  be  thus  easily  extracted. 
Two  or  three  sutures,  according  to  the  size  of  the  calculus,  having 
been  passed  through  the  edges  of  the  wound,  it  will  usually  heal  in 
a few  days. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  EYE. 

Oxen  are  very  apt  to  receive  injuries  about  the  eye,  as  wounds 
penetrating  into  the  orbit  of  the  eye,  or  even  fractures  of  the  orbit. 
The  principal  thing  is  to  prevent  or  abate  inflammation,  by  fomenta- 
tions or  poultices,  and  a little  physic,  and  to  leave  nature  pretty 
nearly  to  herself.  Either  from  injury,  or  from  a disposition  in  the 
bullock  to  throw  out  tumours  of  every  kind,  there  are  frequently  bony 
enlargements  about  the  eyes  of  Dxen.  It  will  be  easily  seen  how  far 
they  are  a nuisance  to  the  animal,  or  impede  the  sight;  and  if  it  is 
necessary  to  remove  them,  the  aid  of  a professed  practitioner  on  cat- 
tle should  be  obtained,  as  an  important  vessel  may  be  divided,  or  a 
sad  blemish  left. 

Soft  fungous  tumours  sometimes  grow  out  of  the  orbit,  or  from  the 
bon©  around.  These  can  only  be  got  rid  of  by  the  use  of  the  knife, 
and  that  should  be  placed  in  a skilful  hand : but  even  in  the  most 


DISEASES  OF  TilE  EYE.  91 

skilful  hands,  the  knife  often  fails ; or  rather,  there  is  a disposition  to 
reproduction  in  these  tumours,  which  it  is  impossible  to  repress. 

The  eyelids  of  the  ox  are  very  subject  to  disease.  Sometimes  theru 
is  a scaliness  around  the  edges ; sometimes  a row  of  pustules  resem- 
bling the  stye  of  the  human  being : both  of  these  diseases  are  fre- 
quently a great  source  of  annoyance.  They  appear  early  in  the  spring 
of  the  year,  and  continue  during  the  summer  and  the  greater  part  of 
the  autumn,  and  disappear  as  winter  comes  on.  A solution  of  white 
vitriol,  in  the  proportion  of  a drachm  to  a pint  of  water,  will  often  be 
a useful  application.  If  this  fails,  the  nitrated  ointment  of  quicksil- 
ver may  be  smeared  over  the  lid,  taking  care  that  none  of  it  gets  into 
the  eye.  It  will,  however,  be  necessary  at  times  to  prepare  for  the 
use  of  these  by  washing  the  part  with  a goulard  lotion  for  a few  days. 

Young  oxen  are  subject  to  warts,  which  are  frequently  sadly  teas- 
ing. They  would  probably  disappear  after  a while,  but,  in  the  mean- 
time, they  are  unsightly,  and  much  annoy  the  animal  by  getting 
between  or  within  the  lids.  They  may  either  be  clipped  off  with  a 
pair  ot  scissors,  touching  the  root  afterwards  with  the  lunar  caustic, 
that  the  wart  may  not  be  reproduced  ; or  — the  best  way  when  prac- 
ticable— they  may  be  removed  by  tying  a ligature  of  fine  strong  silk 
tightly  round  the  pedicle,  or  root. 

The  eye  itself  is  not  unfrequently  inflamed,  and  sometimes  very 
acutely.  The  horse  has  a little  shovel,  concealed  in  the  inner  corner 
of  the  eye,  which  he  is  enabled  to  protrude  whenever  he  pleases  over 
the  greater  part  of  the  eye,  and  by  aid  of  the  tears  to  wipe  and  wash 
away  the  dust  and  gravel  which  would  otherwise  lodge  in  the  eye 
and  give  him  much  pain.  When  the  haw  is  swelled  in  disease,  the 
ignorant  farrier  too  often  cuts  it  away,  not  knowing  that  it  is  the 
mere  effect  of  inflammation,  and  that  a little  cooling  lotion  would 
probably  abate  that  inflammation,  and  lessen  the  swelling,  and  restore 
the  part  to  its  natural  size  and  utility.  The  ox  has  something  of  the 
same  contrivance,  but  it  is  not  so  moveable  or  so  effectual ; and,  when 
he  travels  over  a dusty  road  in  the  heat  of  summer,  he  sadly  suffers 
from  the  small  particles  of  dirt  and  the  insects  that  are  continually 
flying  into  his  eye.  This  is  unobserved  by  the  careless  driver,  and 
inflammation  is  established,  and  the  eye  weeps,  and  becomes  dim, 
and  sometimes  blindness  follows. 

This  portion  of  the  eye,  or  this  third  eyelid,  seems  to  be  peculiarly 
subject  to  disease.  Little  swellings,  and  ulcers,  and  fungous  growths 
appear  upon  it;  and  a fungus,  like  that  just  described,  springs  up 
and  almost  covers  the  eye.  This  is  sometimes  in  a manner  epidemi 
on  various  farms. 

But  from  other  causes,  and  of  the  nature  of  which  we  know  little, 
inflammation  of  the  eye  *3  produced,  and  goes  and  comes  as  in  the’ 
horse,  time  after  time,  tne  attack  being  gradually  more  severe,  ane 
the  intervals  between  the  attacks  shorter,  until,  as  in  the  hetrse,  the 
inflammation  extends  to  the  internal  part  of  the  eye,  and  the  lens 
becomes  opaaue,  and  cataract  ensues,  and  the  ox  is  incurably  blind. 


92 


DISEASES  OF  THE  EYE. 


All  these  must  be  dealt  with  as  other  inflammations  are.  In  ord* 
to  combat  general  inflammation  of  the  eye,  bleeding,  physicking,  and 
fomentations,  are  the  principal  weapons  employed.  The  blood  should 
be  taken  from  the  jugular,  for  that  is  supplied  by  veins  coming  from 
the  inflamed  parts.  If  the  bleeding  is  ever  local,  the  lid  should  be 
turned  down,  and  the  lining  membrane  lightly  scarified.  A few  drops 
of  blood  thus  obtained  will  often  do  a great  deal  of  good.  The 
fomentation  having  been  continued  for  a day  or  two,  one  of  the  two 
following  lotions  should  be  used,  a few  drops  of  it  being  introduced 
into  the  eye  two  or  three  times  every  day : — 

RECIPE  (No.  43.) 

Sedative  Eye  Lotion  (1).— Take,  dried  leaves  of  foxglove,  powdered,  one  and  a half 
ounce  : infuse  them  in  a pint  of  Cape  or  dry  raisin  wine,  for  a fortnight,  and  keep 
the  infusion  for  use. 

There  cannot  be  a better  sedative  in  the  early  stage  of  inflamma 
tion  of  the  eyes. 

In  many  cases  this  alone  will  effect  the  temporary  or  perfect 
removal  of  the  inflammation;  but  should  not  the  eye  improve,  oi 
should  it  appear  to  become  insensible  to  the  influence  of  the  tincture, 
try  the  next  prescription : — 

RECIPE  (No.  44). 

Sedative  Eye  Lotion  (2). — Take,  extract  of  goulard,  two  drachms;  spirituous  tinc- 
ture of  digitalis  (made  in  the  same  manner  as  the  vinous  in  the  last  recipe),  two 
drachms;  tincture  of  opium,  two  drachms  ; water,  a pint : this  should  also  be  intro- 
duced into  the  eye.  Two  or  three  drops  at  a time  will  suffice. 

The  inflammation  being  subdued  by  the  one  or  the  other  of  these 
applications,  or  even  bidding  defiance  to  them,  and  assuming  a chro- 
nic form,  a lotion  of  a different  character  must  be  had  recourse  to. 

RECIPE  (No.  45). 

Strengthening  Lotion  for  the  Eye. — Take,  white  vitriol,  one  scruple ; spirit  of  wine, 
a drachm  ; water,  a pint : mix  them  together,  and  use  the  lotion  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  others. 

When  the  inflammation  runs  high,  the  transparent  part  of  the  eye 
is  apt  to  ulcerate,  and  a fungous  substance  sprouts,  and  sometimes 
protrudes  through  the  lids.  This  should  be  very  lightly  touched  with 
a solution  of  nitrate  of  silver,  or,  if  it  is  very  prominent,  it  should  be. 
cut  off,  and  the  base  of  it  touched  with  the  caustic. 

A seton  in  the  dewlap  will  always  be  beneficial  in  inflammation 
of  the  eye,  and  it  should  either  be  made  of  the  black  hellebore  root, 
or  a cord  well  soaked  in  turpentine. 

Of  one  circumstance  the  breeder  of  cattle  should  be  aware — that 
blindness  is  an  hereditary  disease,  and  that  the  progeny  of  a bull  that 
has  any  defect  of  sight  is  very  apt  to  become  blind. 

If  the  case  is  neglected,  inflammation  of  the  eye  will  sometimes 
run  on  to  cancer , and  not  only  the  eye,  but  the  soft  parts  around  it, 
and  even  the  bones,  will  be  affected. 

When  this  termination  threatens,  the  globe  of  the  eye  will  usually 
turn  to  a bottle-green  colour,  then  ulceration  will  appear  about  th« 


DISEASES  of  the  eye. 


93 


centre  of  it,  and  either  the  fungus  of  which  I have  spoken  will  sprout, 
and  the  eye  will  become  of  three  or  four  times  its  natural  size,  or  it 
will  gradually  diminish  and  sink  into  the  orbit.  The  fluid  discharged 
from  it  will  be  so  acrid  that  it  will  excoriate  the  parts  over  which  it 
runs,  and  the  lids  will  become  swollen  and  ulcerated. 

The  radical  cure,  and  the  most  humane  method  to  be  adopted  with 
regard  to  the  animal,  is  to  remove  the  eye.  Here  the  assistance  of  a 
veterinary  practitioner  will  be  indispensable. 

If  the  owner  does  not  think  proper  to  adopt  this  method,  let  him 
at  least  try  to  make  the  poor  beast  as  comfortable  as  he  can.  The 
part  should  be  kept  clean,  and  when  there  appears  to  be  any  addi 
tional  inflammation,  or  swelling,  or  pain,  the  eye  should  be  well 
fomented  with  a decoction  of  poppy-heads.  Let  none  of  the  stimu 
lating  ointments  or  washes  of  the  farrier  be  used.  This  would  be 
cruelly  punishing  the  animal,  when  no  good  purpose  could  possibly 
be  effected. 

Sometimes  the  centre  of  the  eye  is  not  so  much  affected  as  the  haw 
at  the  inner  corner  of  it.  When  that  part  merely  enlarges  from  the 
inflammation  of  the  eye  generally,  the  digitalis  or  the  Goulard  wash 
will  usually  abate  the  swelling;  and  he  would  be  both  ignorant  and 
cruel  who  would  remove  it  on  account  of  simple  enlargement  accom- 
panying inflammation ; but  when  it  becomes  hard  and  schirrous,  and 
especially  if  fungous  granulations  begin  to  spring  from  it,  the  case 
assumes  a different  character.  No  sedative  or  other  lotion  will  lessen 
the  schirrous  or  the  fungous  tumour.  It  must  be  removed  by  an  ope- 
ration;— it  must  be  cut  away.  The  method  of  accomplishing  this  by 
a skilful  practitioner  is  not  difficult.  The  beast  must  be  thrown,  and 
the  head  held  firmly  down  by  an  assistant.  The  operator  then  passes 
a curved  needle,  armed  with  a double  strong  silk,  through  the  body 
of  the  tumour,  and,  drawing  a portion  of  the  silk  through  it,  gives  the 
needle  and  the  end  of  the  silk  to  be  held  by  another  assistant.  He 
pulls  the  silk  gently,  but  firmly,  until  he  draws  the  tumour  as  far  as 
possible  from  the  corner  of  the  eye,  so  that  the  attachment  of  its  base 
may  be  seen.  The  operator  then  with  a knife  dissects  it  out,  or  with 
a pair  of  scissors  snips  it  off.  No  bleeding  of  any  dangerous  conse- 
quence will  follow,  and  the  blood  that  is  lost  will  abate  the  inflam- 
mation, and  ease  the  pain  which  the  animal  had  previously  endured. 
The  removal  by  ligature  is  a slow  and  not  always  effectual  method 
of  proceeding;  for  it  may  not  be  possible  to  apply  it  accurately 
around  the  very  base  of  the  tumour,  and  then  the  enlargement  will 
probably  be  reproduced.  It  is  also  necessary  to  tighten  the?  ligature 
every  day,  or  every  second  day,  and  at  each  time  the  contest  with 
the  beast  must  be  renewed  if  this  mode  of  removing  thetvmourfa 
adopted. 


7 


94 


THE  IIOOVE. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  HOOVE,  HOVEN,  OR  BLOWN. 

This  disease  is  a distention  of  the  rumen,  or  first  stomach,  by  the 
gas  which  is  extracted  from  certain  substances  undergoing  the  process 
of  fermentation  within  it.  The  herbage  is  hastily  gathered  at  first, 
and  received  into  the  rumen,  in  order  to  undergo  there  a process  of 
maceration,  by  means  of  which  it  may  be  more  perfectly  ground 
down,  and  all  its  nutritive  matter  extracted  when  it  is  subjected  to  a 
second  mastication. 

The  rumen  has  been  described  as  divided  into  various  compart- 
ments, and  its  coats  containing  a strong  muscular  structure.  By  the 
action  of  these  muscles  the  food  is  made  slowly  to  traverse  these 
compartments  in  the  order  in  which  it  was  received ; and  the  journey, 
»n  the  ordinary  state  of  health,  occupies  sufficient  time  for  the  herbage 
to  be  to  a certain  degree  macerated  or  softened,  but  not  for  that  pro- 
cess of  fermentation  to  be  set  up  to  which  all  vegetables  are  liable. 

Supposing  an  ox  to  be  suddenly  turned  into  new  and  luxuriant 

f>asture,  he  sets  to  work,  and  gathers  the  herbage  rapidly  and  greedi- 
y ; so  much  so  that  the  stomach  is  unable  to  propel  forward  the  dif- 
ferent portions  of  food  as  they  are  received,  but  becomes  overloaded 
*nd  clogged,  and  at  length  ceases  altogether  to  act  upon  its  contents. 
The  food  remains  longer  in  the  stomach  than  nature  designed  that  it 
should,  and  it  begins  to  ferment ; and  while  fermenting  throws  out  a 
quantity  of  gas,  which  distends  the  stomach  almost  or  quite  to  burst- 
ing. Thence  arises  the  danger  of  sudden  change  of  pasture  from  an 
inferior  to  a better  quality,  and  the  numerous  cases  of  distension  of 
the  stomach  and  death  which  occur  when  the  fog-grass  is  plentiful 
and  succulent,  or  the  beast  has  without  preparation  or  care  been 
turned  upon  clover  or  turnips. 

Some  animals,  however,  are  subject  to  hoove,  but  in  a slighter 
degree,  without  this  change  of  pasture.  Many  a weakly  cow  has 
occasional  swellings  of  the  paunch  where  there  has  been  little  or  no 
change  of  food.  The  stomach,  also,  is  subject  to  disease — it  sympa- 
thises with  disease  of  every  other  part;  and  one  of  the  first  and  most 
frequent  results  of  an  unhealthy  state  of  it  is  the  production  of  an 
acid,  which  wonderfully  accelerates  and  increases  the  process  of  fer- 
mentation and  the  development  of  gas.  Hence  it  is  that  distension 
of  the  stomach  is  an  accompaniment  of  almost  every  malady  to  which 
cattle  are  liable.  No  case  of  difficult  parturition,  or  of  dropping  after 
calving,  or  of  milk  fever,  occurs  without  some  degree  of  distension 
of  the  paunch,  either  from  the  stomach  being  so  weakened  as  to  be 
unable  to  force  the  food  along,  or  from  its  secreting  this  unnatural 
and  unhealthy  acid,  so  favourable  to  the  progress  of  fermentation. 
The  symptoms  of  hoove  are  sufficiently  known.  The  beast  seems 
9 * 


THE  HOOVE. 


95 


to  swell,  and  that  to  an  enormous  extent ; the  breathing  is  very  labo- 
rious, and  the  animal  is  evidently  in  great  distress,  and  threatened 
with  immediate  suffocation,  from  the  pressure  of  the  distended  sto- 
mach against  the  diaphragm  diminishing  the  cavity  of  the  chest,  ana 
rendering  it  impossible  for  the  lungs  to  expand.  The  difficulty  of 
ireathing  increases  with  the  distension  of  the  stomach  and  the  pres- 
sure on  the  lungs,  and  the  animal  is  inevitably  lost  if  relief  is  not 
soon  obtained. 

This  relief  consists,  and  can  alone  consist,  in  relieving  the  stomach 
from  the  distension.  But  how  is  this  to  be  accomplished  ] Medi- 
cine seems  to  be  almost  or  quite  thrown  away.  If  a drink  is  given, 
not  a drop  of  it  will  find  its  way  into  the  paunch,  the  entrance  to 
which  is  so  firmly  closed  that  it  seems  scarcely  possible  that  even  a 
ball  should  now  break  through  the  floor.  A very  stimulating  drink, 
passing  into  the  fourth  stomach,  and  exciting  it,  may,  by  sympathy, 
induce  the  paunch  to  act:  yet  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  that 
viscus  can  possibly  act  while  its  fibres  are  put  thus  violently  upon 
the  stretch. 

Something  might  have  been  done  by  way  of  prevention.  If,  when 
the  cattle  had  been  turned  into  the  fresh  pasture,  they  had  been  care- 
fully watched,  and  removed  again  to  the  straw-yard,  before  the 
paunch  had  been  too  much  gorged,  and  this  had  been  repeated  two 
or  three  times,  the  appetite  would  have  been  blunted  and  hoove  pre- 
vented. 

Some  farmers,  an  hour  or  two  before  they  have  turned  such  cows 
as  are  of  a greedy  disposition  into  a fresh  pasture,  give  them  a cor- 
dial drink.  The  stomach  is  stimulated  by  this,  and  induced  to  con- 
tract in  time  upon  its  contents;  and  this  contraction  has  reminded  the 
animal  of  the  necessary  process  of  rumination,  or  has  rendered  it 
almost  impossible  for  him  to  continue  to  feed  until  some  portion  of 
the  contents  of  the  stomach  has  been  returned  and  remasticated. 

If  the  farmer  will  adopt  such  a plan,  the  following  drink  is  as  good 
as  any  that  can  be  given  : — 

RECIPE  (No.  46). 

Cordial  Drink.—  Take,  caraway  and  aniseeds,  in  powder,  of  each  an  ounce ; ginger 
half  an  ounce : mix  with  a pint  of  good  ale,  made  hot. 

I must  confess,  however,  that,  although  I would  not  absolutely 
condemn  such  a practice,  I would  much  rather  trust  to  simpler  and 
more  effectual  precautions.  I would  take  care  that  the  change  of 
food  should  not  be  too  sudden  nor  too  great.  If  there  was  an  evident 
difference  in  the  nutritive  quality  of  the  two  pastures,  I would  bf? 
carefully  on  the  watch,  and  remove  the  beast  to  shorter  grass,  before 
material  mischief  could  be  effected. 

Suppose,  however,  that  the  mischief  is  done;  the  stomach  is  dis- 
tended, and  the  animal  is  evidently  threatened  with  immediate  suffo 
cation.  Nothing  but  mechanical  means  will  now  be  of  avail. 

Some  drive  the  animal  about.  This  is  sadly  cruel  work;  for  he 
seems  to  be  scarcely  able  to  move,  and  appears  as  if  he  would  be 


IKS 


TI1E  HOOVE. 


suffocated  every  moment.  This  has,  however,  been  sometimes  suc- 
cessful, especially  if  the  beast  is  made  to  trot ; for,  by  the  motion  and 
the  shaking  of  the  stomach  thus  produced,  the  roof  of  the  paunch  has 
been  forced  a little  open,  and  a portion  of  the  air  has  escaped,  and 
some  of  the  food  with  it,  and  the  stomach  has  been  relieved  from  a 
part  of  its  distension,  and  has  been  enabled  to  act  upon  the  remaining 
food,  and  the  process  of  rumination  has  recommenced.  It  is,  how- 
ever, dangerous  work ; for  in  the  act  of  moving  with  the  stomach  so 
distended,  either  it  or  the  diaphragm  upon  which  it  is  pressing  is  in 
danger  of  being  ruptured. 

Some  have  resorted  to  an  operation.  Midway  between  the  last  rib 
and  the  haunch-bone,  the  distended  paunch  will  be  felt  pressing 
against  the  flank.  A lancet  or  a pocket-knife  has  been  plunged  into 
the  animal  at  that  spot,  which  has  passed  through  the  skin  and  the 
wall  of  the  belly,  and  entered  the  paunch.  The  vapour  has  then 
rushed  out  with  a hissing  noise,  and  steamed  up  four  or  five  feet  high, 
and  some  of  the  contents  of  the  bowels  have  been  forced  up  with  the 
gas,  and  the  flanks  have  fallen,  and  the  beast  has  evidently  become 
less,  and  has  been  so  much  relieved  that  he  has  begun  to  ruminate, 
and  has  done  well.  The  wound  is  left  open  for  a while,  that  any 
newly-formed  gas  may  escape:  it  then  soon  heals  of  itself,  or  would 
almost  immediately  if  its  edges  were  brought  together  by  a slip  of 
adhesive  plaster. 

It,  however,  too  frequently  happens,  that,  although  present  relief 
has  been  obtained,  and  the  beast  has  ruminated  and  eaten,  it  has  in  a 
few  days  begun  to  show  symptoms  of  indisposition,  and  has  become 
feverish,  and  drooped,  and  died.  We  account  for  this  by  some  of  the 
gas,  and,  perhaps,  a portion  of  the  food,  getting  into  the  belly,  be 
tween  the  paunch  and  the  flank,  and  falling  down  among  the  intes- 
tines, and  causing  irritation  and  inflammation  there. 

Some  have  adopted  even  rougher  and  more  effectual  methods  of 
remedying  the  evil.  They  have  not  contented  themselves  with  simply 
puncturing  the  paunch,  but  they  have  cut  a hole  into  it  through  the 
flank  large  enough  to  introduce  the  hand ; and  so  they  have  not  only 
liberated  the  air,  but  have  taken  out  the  fermenting  food  by  pailfuls. 
They  have  even  gone  so  far  as  to  pour  in  water,  and  fairly  wash  the 
paunch  out.  They  have  then  brought  the  edges  of  the  wound  toge- 
ther by  passing  a few  stitches  through  it,  and  including  the  substance 
of  the  flank  and  the  wall  of  the  paunch  in  each  stitch,  and  afterwards 
covered  the  wound  with  adhesive  plaster,  and  it  has  readily  healed, 
and  no  bad  consequence  has  ensued.  In  desperate  cases,  as  when 
the  paunch  seems  to  be  filled  with  a mass  of  food  that  will  continue 
to  ferment,  and  cannot  be  got  rid  of  either  by  rumination  or  by  physic, 
chis  bold  mode  of  treatment  may  be  adopted.  The  paunch  has  few 
blood-vessels,  and  little  sensibility,  and  will  bear  great  injury  without 
any  fatal  consequence.  But  this  expedient  has  not  always  succeeded. 
Inflammation  has  ensued,  and  carried  the  animal  off.  Besides  this, 
he  paunch,  being  suspended  by  these  stitches,  and  afterwards  hang- 


THE  HOOVE. 


97 


ing  thus  from  the  flank,  is  kept  permanently  out  of  its  place,  and  i§ 
unable  freely  and  fully  to  contract  afterwards  upon  its  contents : thus 
inflammation  has  ensued ; and  the  subsequent  want  of  condition  m 
some  of  these  animals,  and  the  difficulty  of  fattening  them  thoroughly, 
is  easily  accounted  for. 

Some  farmers  go  a little  more  judiciously  to  work.  They  thrust  a 
flexible  stick,  or  a cart-whip,  down  the  throat,  and  through  the  floor 
of  the  passage  beneath,  and  the  roof  of  the  paunch,  and  thus  enable 
some  of  the  gas  to  escape ; and  this,  perhaps,  would  be  effectual,  if 
the  stick  could  be  kept  there  long  enough,  and  the  stomach  did  not 
close  around  it. 

An  instrument,  first  devised  by  Dr.  Monro,  and  now  brought  to 
perfection  by  Mr.  Read,  of  the  Regent’s  Circus,  is  superior  to  every 
other  method  of  relieving  blown  or  hoven  cattle.  A kind  of  gag  is 
placed  across  the  mouth,  with  a hole  in  the  centre  of  it,  and  a leather 
at  each  end  to  buckle  round  the  horns.  Through  this  is  passed  a 
hollow  tube  of  stout  leather,  called  a probang,  with  a perforated  knob 
at  the  end  of  it,  and  containing  (to  render  it  firm  enough  to  be  thrust 
down  the  throat,  and  flexible  enough  to  accommodate  itself  to  the 
bending  of  the  passage)  a stylet,  or  slender  piece  of  cane  or  whale- 
bone, extending  through  the  whole  of  its  length.  The  tube,  thus 
strengthened  by  the  stylet,  is  forced  through  the  roof  of  the  paunch 
into  that  stomach.  The  stylet  is  then  withdrawn,  and  the  air  rushes 
violently  out,  and  sometimes  a considerable  quantity  of  fluid  with  it. 
The  tube  may  be  kept  in  the  gullet  as  long  as  the  operator  pleases, 
or  returned  as  often  as  may  be  necessary;  and  if  it  be  passed  down 
with  a little  caution,  and  not  too  rapidly  and  violently,  no  injury  can 
possibly  ensue. 

Thus  the  gas  and  some  of  the  fluid  are  liberated;  but  the  solid- 
contents  of  the  stomach,  the  undigested  food,  may  remain,  continuing 
to  ferment,  and  so  nauseating  the  animal  that  he  is  disgusted  in  the 
act  of  rumination.  Mr.  Read  has  a contrivance  to  remedy  this.*  He 


* [ Read's  Patent  Veterinary  Syringe  consists  of  a syringe  (Fig.  1)  to  which  tubes 
of  different  sizes  are  affixed,  according  to  the  purpose  and  kind  of  animal  to  be  ope- 
rated upon.  There  is  a long  flexible  tube  for  giving  an  enema  (clyster)  to  horses  and 
cattle,  a,  and  a smaller  one  for  dogs,  b.  To  relieve  hoven  cattle,  however,  it  is  not 
only  necessary  to  relieve  the  stomach  from  an  accumulation  of  gas,  but  from  the 
fermenting  pultaceous  mixture  which  generates  it:  for  this  purpose  a tube,  d , it 
applied  to  the  extremity  of  the  syringe,  and  then  passed  into  the  animal’s  stomach 
through  the  mouth,  as  in  Fig.  2,  and  being  put  into  action,  the  offending  matter  it 
discharged  by  a side  opening.  When  the  same  operation  is  performed  on  sheep,  9 
■mailer  tube,  e , is  used.  The  characteristic  excellency  of  this  apparatus  is,  that  there 
is  no  limit  to  the  quantity  of  fluid  that  may  be  ejected  or  extracted.  The  same 
syringe  is  used  for  extracting  poison  from  the  stomach  of  man,  for  smoking  insects 
for  extinguishing  fires,  and  syringing  fruit  trees. 

Another  drawing  represents  a very  useful  instrument,  and  for  which  there  is 
frequent  occasion;  a hollow  probang , for  relieving  cattle  choked  with  turnips,  pota 
toes,  &c.  Tt  is  armed  with  a stilet,  which  being  passed  into  the  throat  of  an  animal 
9 


08 


THE  HOOVE. 


cannot,  indeed,  extract  the  food  from  the  stomach  by  his  tube,  but  he 
can  do  that  which  is  almost  as  beneficial.  He  attaches  to  the  tube  a 
pump,  that  can  in  a moment  be  altered,  so  as  to  be  used  either  as  a 
forcing-pump  like  a little  garden-engine,  or  as  a common  sucking- 
pump,  and  by  means  of  it  he  can  inject  as  much  water  into  the 
stomach  as  he  pleases,  and  draw  it  out  again,  and  wash  away  the 
impurities  of  the  food,  and  a considerable  portion  of  the  food  itself ; 
or,  by  using  warm  water,  and  perfectly  filling  the  stomach,  he  can 
excite  the  act  of  vomiting,  and  so  get  rid  of  the  nuisance  at  once. 
This  is  an  admirable  contrivance,  and  no  one  who  has  many  cattle 
should  be  without  the  pump  and  tube.  Some  of  these  instruments 
are  made  on  a smaller  scale,  so  as  to  be  adapted  for  sheep  labouring 
under  the  same  complaint,  to  which  they  are  as  subject  as  oxen  are. 
Nothing  can  be  better  contrived  for  the  administering  of  injections 
than  these  tubes  with  the  pump  attached  to  them.  Two  or  three 
gallons  of  fluid  can  be  thrown  up  in  as  many  minutes. 

After  the  stomach  has  been  well  emptied  by  these  means,  it  will 
always  be  proper  to  give  a cordial  drink  like  that  recommended  in 
Recipe  31,  p.  79. 

A knowledge  of  chemistry  has  been  turned  to  excellent  account  in 
the  treatment  of  hoove.  The  air,  or  gas,  with  which  the  rumen  is 
distended  in  these  cases  has  been  analysed,  and  found  to  consist 
principally  of  hydrogen,  or  inflammable  air,  and  in  combination  either 
with  sulphur  or  the  principle  of  all  plants — carbon  or  charcoal.  Are 
there  any  means  by  which  this  hydrogen  can  be  removed,  or  at  least 
made  to  occupy  less  space,  and  the  distension  of  the  stomach  be 
relieved]  There  is  another  gas  for  which  hydrogen  has  a strong 
affinity,  namely,  chlorine ; and  when  they  are  brought  into  contact 
with  each  other  they  rapidly  combine  — they  both  lose  their  gaseous 
form,  and  a fluid,  not  occupying  a thousandth  part  of  the  bulk  oi 
either,  is  found  in  their  stead  — muriatic  acid. 

Chlorine,  however,  is  a highly  poisonous  gas : it  cannot  be  breathed 
in  a very  diluted  state  without  a distressing  feeling  of  suffocation, 
and  undiluted  it  would  be  immediately  fatal  to  life.  How  shall  it  be 
safely  introduced  into  the  stomach  in  order  to  combine  with  and 
change  the  properties  of  this  hydrogen  ] 

To  a chemist  the  method  of  accomplishing  this  presents  no  difficul- 
ties. There  is  a combination  of  chlorine,  fortunately  for  medicine, 

that  is  choking  by  a piece  of  solid  food,  too  large  to  pass,  perforates  the  snbstance 
and  allows  of  its  being  easily  withdrawn  or  blown  out  in  fragments. 

The  figure  A represents  a section  of  the  stilet  probang;  the  figure  B shows  the 
operation  of  the  same,  in  extracting  solid  substances.  By  these  inventions  it  has 
been  truly  said  Mr.  Read  has  conferred  a permanent  benefit  on  the  breeder  and  feeder 
of  domestic  animals.  These  instruments  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  farmer; 
their  cost  wrould  be  more  than  repaid  by  a single  operation,  by  the  saving  of  the  life 
of  one  of  his  cattle.  Their  simplicity,  too,  is  such  as  to  render  them  capable  of  be»ng 
miployed  by  any  individual,  the  only  necessary  preliminary  being  that  the  head  *1 
bo  animal  be  held  in  a proper  position.  — S.] 


* 


‘ 


TIIE  HOOVE. 


00 


now  well  known  and  in  extensive  use  — Chloride  of  Lime.  The 
practitioner,  then,  after  having,  by  means  of  Read’s  pri  bang,  got  rid 
of  the  hydrogen  already  extricated,  provides  for  the  absorption  or 
disappearance  of  any  that  may  afterwards  be  formed,  in  the  following 
manner: — he  dissolves  two  drachms  of  the  chloride  of  lime  in  the 
form  of  powder,  in  a quart  or  three  pints  of  water,  and  injects  this 
into  the  stomach  by  means  of  Read’s  pump.  The  chlorine  has  an 
affinity  for  lime — in  virtue  of  that  affinity  it  had  combined  with  it  and 
formed  chloride  of  lime;  hut,  having  a much  stronger  affinity  for 
hydrogen,  it  rapidly  quits  the  lime  and  unites  with  the  hydrogen, 
either  then  existing  in  the  stomach,  or  as  it  may  be  afterwards  extri 
cated  during  the  process  of  fermentation,  and  forms  muriatic  acid ; 
and  by  the  wonderful  diminution  of  bulk  that  follows  this  new  com- 
bination of  hydrogen,  the  distension  of  the  stomach  is  at  once,  and, 
as  it  were,  magically  removed. 

There  are  then  left  in  the  stomach  muriatic  acid  and  the  lime  which 
has  lost  its  chlorine.  These  are  highly  caustic  substances,  and  might 
threaten  to  be  detrimental,  but  their  continued  presence  in  the  stomach 
is  beautifully  provided  against,  for  between  the  muriatic  acid  and  the 
lime  there  is  also  a strong  affinity ; and  these  substances  hasten  to 
unite;  and  the  result  is  a harmless  neutral  salt,  muriate  of  lime. 

The  practitioner  on  cattle  will  highly  prize  this  remedy  for  hoove, 
and  will  see  other  ways  in  which  it  may  be  usefully  employed. 

It  is  proper  to  observe  that  there  are  several  other  medicaments 
which  have  been  found  of  great  service  in  this  disease,  such  as  lime- 
water,  potash,  hartshorn,  and  particularly  sulphuric  ether.  About  an 
ounce  and  a half  of  hartshorn  may  be  given  in  a pint  and  a half  of 
water,  unless  the  symptoms  are  so  urgent  as  to  threaten  immediate 
suffocation : then  the  flexible  tube,  if  at  hand,  should  be  used  ; or,  if 
not,  the  trochar,  or  the  knife,  plunged  into  the  flank.  If  the  symptoms 
should  denote  any  inflammation,  ether  will  be  preferable  as  a medi- 
cine, as  it  promptly  condenses  the  gases : an  ounce  may  be  given  in 
a pint  of  water.  If  the  symptoms  are  produced  by  green  food  there 
is  less  probability  of  inflammation  than  if  the  food  has  been  previously 
dry. 

It  is  very  important  to  distinguish  between  distension  of  the  paunch 
produced  by  meteriozation,  or  the  production  of  gas,  and  that  occa- 
sioned wholly  or  in  part  by  the  large  mass  of  food  itself.  The  nature 
of  the  diet  will  in  some  measure  assist  our  judgment.  If  it  has  con- 
sisted of  roots,  such  as  potatoes,  the  obstruction  will  probably  be 
mechanical ; and  then,  though  the  symptoms  may  not  be  so  painful 
or  sudden,  the  danger  is  yet  greater.  There  is  generally  some  in* 
flammation  of  the  digestive  organs,  and  the  pulse  is  usually  small 
and  feeble.  On  pressing  the  abdomen  at  the  flank,  we  find  that  the 
stomach  feels  hard  and  firm,  although  even  in  this  case  it  contains 
some  gas. 

It  will  be  proper  to  administer  ether  or  chloride  of  lime,  to  con- 
dense  the  gases,  as  before  advised : then,  if  no  relief  can  he  obtained 


100 


TIIE  HOOVE. 


by  this  or  the  administration  of  purgatives,  it  will  be  proper  to  employ 
the  trochar,  and  thus  give  exit  to  the  gas,  and  ascertain  positively  the 
nature  of  the  contents  of  the  rumen.  If  they  are  found  to  be  solid  and 
in  considerable  quantity,  it  will  be  proper  to  make  an  opening  in  the 
flank  five  inches  long,  so  as  to  insert  the  hand,  and  empty  the  stomach 
mechanically,  taking  especial  care  not  to  let  any  of  the  food  escape 
from  the  wound  in  the  rumen  into  the  abdomen.  The  wound  must 
afterwards  be  stitched  up,  and  some  blood  may  be  taken  and  an  oily 
laxative  administered,  and  the  food  for  some  days  given  very 
sparingly.  The  operation  is,  of  course,  attended  with  much  danger, 
and  should  therefore  be  employed  in  desperate  cases  only ; but  it  has 
been  performed  with  perfect  success. 

Cattle  that  have  been  once  blown  are  subject  to  a repetition  of  the 
accident.  The  chloride  of  lime  should  be  administered  whenever  they 
are  turned  into  fresh  and  tempting  pasture : they  should  be  more 
carefully  watched  than  others,  and  a cordial  drink,  mingled  with  a 
portion  of  physic,  given  them  as  soon  as  they  appear  to  be  in  the 
slightest  degree  blown. 

[A  gentleman  of  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  once  assured  us  that  he  had  often  seen  a 
tarred  rope  tied  in  the  mouth  of  cattle  or  sheep  for  this  affection,  and  “ never  knew 
it  fail.”  To  prevent  hoven,  Lewis  Saunders,  an  eminent  cattle  breeder  of  Kentucky, 
recommends  — to  “ mix  thoroughly  one  bushel  of  wood  ashes,  sifted  to  each  bushel 
of  common  salt;  this  mixture  to  be  used  as  salt  for  stock  on  a farm.  At  all  times 
stock  ought  to  be  sufficiently  salted ; but  at  the  periods  most  likely  to  be  attacked 
with  hoove  (early  in  spring  or  at  the  time  of  first  frosts  in  autumn;  increase  the 
supply  of  salt  and  ashes.  The  alkali,  says  Mr.  Saunders,  destroys,  from  the  ashes, 
the  acidity  of  the  stomach— preventing  the  accumulation  of  gas.  1 have  thus  used 
ashes  with  salt,  for  stock,  for  upwards  of  twenty  years,  and  in  all  that  time  have 
lost  but  one  animal  by  hoove,  and  that  was  supposed  to  have  occurred  in  conse- 
quence of  having  omitted  the  ashes,  in  one  or  two  saltings.  I prefer  salting  on  the 
ground,  a double  handful  in  a place  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  apart.  I use  the 
mixtur  'or  horse  and  hog  stock,  as  well  as  for  cattle  and  sheep.”—  Grass  Hills , Ken 
tucky  — S.J 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

CHOKING. 

Cattle  are  extremely  liable  to  become  choked  when  feeding  on 
turnips  or  other  roots,  and  many  are  in  consequence  destroyed.  A 
round  object,  such  as  a potato,  is  more  likely  to  occasion  suffocation 
than  a more  irregular  body,  as  it  produces  greater  pressure  on  the 
windpipe,  and  is  embraced  more  closely  by  the  oesophagus.  The 
appearances  attending  choking  can  scarcely  be  mistaken.  The  animal 
evinces  great  distress,  tries  to  bring  up  the  obstructing  body,  slavers 
at  the  mouth,  pokes  its  nose,  and  draws  up  the  neck.  After  awhile 


CHOKING  . 


1)1 


ne  abdomen  swells  from  the  inflation  of  the  paunch  with  gas.  Some- 
times the  beast  will  die  in  a very  short  time,  but  the  urgency  of  the  case 
depends  much  on  the  situation  and  the  size  of  the  obstructing  body. 

If  me  rumen  is  so  distended  as  to  threaten  immediate  suffocation, 
it  will  be  proper  to  puncture  it ; but  this,  if  possible,  should  be  avoided. 
It  will  next  be  desirable  to  ascertain  the  situation  of  the  obstruction. 
Sometimes  it  will  be  found  that  the  body  is  impacted  at  the  back  of 
ihe  mouth  or  beginning  of  the  oesophagus  : in  these  cases  by  using  a 
oalling-iron  the  object  can  frequently  be  removed  by  passing  up  the 
hand. 

If,  however,  the  substance  is  situated  low  down  the  tube,  it  will  be 
desirable  to  force  it  onwards.  For  this  purpose  half  a pint  of  oil 
should  be  given  to  lubricate  the  passage  as  much  as  possible,  and 
then  the  beast,  being  properly  secured,  and  a gag  placed  in  the  mouth, 
a flexible  tube  or  rod,  with  a knob  at  the  end,  should  be  carefully 
passed  down  the  oesophagus  until  it  reaches  the  body : a steady 
pressure  should  now  be  employed  to  force  it  onwards ; but  this  should 
be  done  patiently,  so  as  not  to  injure  the  parts.  By  alternately  resting 
and  trying  again,  the  object  will  generally  be  removed. 

If  the  object  is  situated  near  the  mouth,  but  not  sufficiently  so  as 
to  be  reached  by  the  hand,  it  can  best  be  removed  by  means  of  an  in- 
strument invented  by  Mr.  Simonds,  and  which  is  constructed  so  as  to 
embrace  the  obstructing  body  by  a forceps,  concealed  in  the  bulb  at 
the  end  of  the  tube,  and  thus  to  remove  it  upwards  by  the  mouth. 

After  forcing  the  object  into  the  stomach  it  will  be  desirable  to  let 
the  probang  remain  a short  time,  if  the  animal  is  hoven,  to  afford  an 
exit  for  the  gas : and  this  may  be  assisted  by  pressing  the  flanks. 

No  solid  food  should  be  allowed  for  several  days  afterwards,  as 
there  is  great  danger  of  a repetition  of  the  choking  until  the  .muscles 
entirely  recover  their  tone.  Sometimes,  after  all  attempts  of  removing 
the  body  by  the  methods  before  described  have  failed,  it  will  be  pro- 
per to  do  so  by  means  of  an  operation  which  has  been  performed  with 
success ; and  this  consists  in  making  an  incision  through  the  skin 
into  the  oesophagus,  sufficiently  large  to  extract  the  body.  Great  care 
must  be  exercised  so  as  not  to  injure  the  important  nerves  and  blood- 
vessels situated  near  the  part.  The  beast  should  be  cast  for  the 
operation,  and  the  wound  carefully  sewed  up  afterwards,  and  for 
6everal  days  the  food  should  consist  principally  of  gruel. 

[A  gentleman  who  has  been  much  in  Spain  says  that  it  is  a common  practice 
there,  tf.ien  cattle  get  choked  with  apples,  or  other  such  substances,  for  two  or  three 
men  to  seize  them  and  lay  their  neck  over  a log  of  wood,  and  then  the  operator 
feeling  for  the  obstruction,  strikes  a smart  blow  immediately  over  it,  with  a mallet 
or  billet  of  wood,  sufficient  to  crush  the  apple  to  pieces,  which  instantly  begins  to 
be  blown  out,  and  the  animal  is  relieved.  The  expedient  appears  to  be  practicable, 
where  the  obstruction  can  be  fell  externally  and  come  at  in  this  way.  The  probang 
mentioned  in  this  chapter  has  been  exhibited  by  an  appropriate  drawing,  page  f04, 
In  the  belief  that  it  is  not  of  such  familiar  use,  or  so  generally  known  among  us,  ai 
in  England.  — S.] 

9* 


102 


LOCKED  / AW. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

LOCKED  JAW. 

Fortunately  this  is  not  a very  frequent  disease  among  cattle ; bu 
it  is  a very  fatal  one  when  it  does  occur.  If  the  attendant  is  careful) 
he  will  observe  the  symptoms  of  this  malady  one  or  two  days  before 
it  is  thoroughly  and  incurably  established.  There  will  be  a stiffness 
of  gait  in  the  beast — he  will  walk  unusually  wide  behind — there  will 
be  difficulty  of  turning — permanent  cocking  of  the  tail,  except  when 
that  is  interrupted,  or  accompanied  by  a singular  tremulous  motion 
of  it.  The  animal  can  scarcely,  and,  after  a while,  not  at  all,  bend 
his  neck  to  graze ; but  he  will  stand  with  his  head  protruding,  and 
his  ears  stiffened,  and  unnaturally  fixed  in  a somewhat  backward 
direction.  Rumination  gradually  ceases,  or  is  performed  slowly  and 
painfully.  At  length  the  jaws  become  firmly  closed,  and  the  neck 
perfectly  stiff.  The  eyes  are  strangely  fixed,  and  with  some  degree 
of  squinting,  and  the  expression  of  the  countenance  is  peculiarly 
anxious.  The  breathing  is  considerably  affected,  and  there  is  much 
labour  of  the  flanks. 

The  animal  will  linger  on  in  this  dreadful  way  for  eight,  or  nine, 
or  ten  days,  almost  every  muscle  of  the  body  being  painfully  cramp- 
ed, and  the  poor  creature  unable  to  take  a morsel  of  food,  until  at 
length  it  dies,  exhausted  by  the  violent  contraction  of  the  muscles 
and  by  starvation. 

The  usual  cause  of  locked  jaw  is  some  neglected  or  unobserved 
wound,  particularly  in  the  feet.  Working  oxen,  therefore,  are  most 
subject  to  iti  Several  weeks  sometimes  pass  between  the  infliction 
of  the  wound  and  the  appearance  of  this  disease.  Working  oxen  that 
have  been  exposed  to  cold  and  wet,  after  being  heated  in  drawing, 
frequently  have  locked  jaw.  It  has  been  said  that  locked  jaw  is 
occasionally  produced  by  eating  some  poisonous  plant,  particularly 
the  colchicum,  the  water-hemlock,  or  the  yew.  I much  doubt  the 
accuracy  of  this;  and  in  many,  and  probably  the  majority  of,  in- 
stances the  cause  is  altogether  unknown. 

Tne  treatment  is  indicated  by  the  nature  of  the  disease.  It  is  a 
most  violent  action  of  the  nerves  of  motion,  either  of  a part  or  the 
whole  of  the  frame.  The  most  likely  means  to  quiet  this  is  the  loss 
of  blood,  and  that  in  a large  quantity.  Therefore,  the  ox  should  be 
bled  as  soon  as  the  complaint  is  discovered,  and  bled  until  his  pulse 
falters,  and  he  staggers,  and  threatens  to  fall.  The  bleeding  will 
usually  relax  the  muscles  of  the  jaw  to  a certain  degree,  and  for  a 
little  while;  and  advantage  must  be  taken  of  this  to  give  a strong 
physic  drink 


LOCKED  JAW. 


103 


RECIPE  (No.  47). 

Strong  Physic  Drink  for  Locked  Jaw.— Take  Barbadoes  aloes,  one  ounce  and  a 
half ; the  kernel  of  the  croton  nut,  powdered,  ten  grains.  Dissolve  them  it  as  small 
a quantity  as  possible  of  boiling  water,  and  give  them  when  the  liquid  is  sufficiently 
cool. 

Generally  the  jaw  will  be  now  sufficiently  relaxed  to  permit  the 
introduction  of  the  thin  neck  of  a claret  bottle  into  the  mouth.  The 
best  method,  however,  of  giving  medicine  in  this  case  is  by  the 
assistance  of  Read’s  patent  pump,  the  pipe  of  which,  let  the  jaws  In- 
fixed as  firmly  as  they  may,  can  generally  be  introduced,  close  to 
and  immediately  before  the  grinders. 

The  bowels  having  been  opened,  those  medicines  must  be  resorted 
to  which  have  the  readiest  and  most  powerful  effect  in  quieting  the 
nervous  system.  These  are,  as  it  regards  cattle,  opium  and  cam- 
phor. 

RECIPE  (No.  48). 

Anodyne  Drink  for  Locked  Jaw. — Take  camphor,  one  drachm,  rub  it  down  in  an 
ounce  of  spirits  of  wine;  to  this  add  powdered  opium,  one  drachm,  and  give  the 
mixture  in  a small  quantity  of  thick  gruel. 

This  medicine  should  be  administered  three  or  four  times  every 
day;  care  being  taken  that  the  bowels  are  kept  open,  either  by  means 
of  aloes  or  Epsom  salts. 

The  bleeding  should  be  repeated  on  the  second  day,  if  the  animal 
is  not  evidently  relieved  ; and  as  much  blood  should  be  again  taken 
as  the  patient  can  bear  to  lose. 

The  stable  or  cow-house  should  be  warm,  and  the  animal  covered 
with  two  or  three  thick  rugs.  If  considerable  perspiration  can  be 
excited,  the  beast  is  almost  sure  to  experience  some  relief. 

While  all  this  is  done  to  lower  the  action  of  the  nervous  system, 
the  strength  of  the  beast  must  be  supported.  He  will  not,  or  rather 
he  cannot  eat;  but  he  often  looks  very  wistfully  at  his  food.  Let  a 
good  mash,  a little  at  a time,  and  moister  than  usual,  be  placed  be- 
fore him,  a portion  of  which  he  will  try  hard  to  suck  up.  If  he 
manages  this  tolerably  well  he  needs  not  to  be  forced  with  gruel  or 
any  other  nutriment;  but  if  his  jaws  are  too  firmly  fixed  for  this,  the 
small  end  of  the  pipe  of  Read’s  pump  should  be  introduced  into  the 
mouth,  and  as  much  thick  gruel  pumped  down  as  the  attendant 
pleases.  When  the  poor  animal  has  been  hungry  for  two  or  three 
days  through  utter  impossibility  of  eating,  he  will  gladly  enough 
submit  to  this  operation,  and  almost  offer  himself  for  it. 

It  will  be  almost  labour  in  vain  to  endeavour  to  stimulate  the  skin, 
or  to  raise  a blister.  Two,  three,  or  four  setons  in  the  dewlap  have 
been  useful;  and  benefit  has  been  derived  from  shaving  the  hack 
along  the  whole  course  of  the  skin,  and  cauterising  it  severely  with 
the  common  firing-iron.  If  it  should  be  found  impracticable  to  ad- 
minister either  food  or  medicine  by  the  mouth,  they  must  be  given  in 
the  form  of  clysters.  Double  the  usual  quantity  of  the  medicine  must 
t be  given,  on  account  of  the  probable  loss  of  a portion  of  it,  and  the 
small  quantity  that  the  absorbents  of  the  intestines  may  take  up , udt 


104 


POISONS. 


loo  much  gruel  must  not  be  injected,  otherwise  it  will  probably  be 
returned.  A quart  will  generally  be  as  much  as  will  be  retained,  and 
\he  clyster  may  be  repeated  five  or  si£  times  in  the  course  of  the 
day. 

Should  the  progress  of  the  disease  have  been  rapid,  and  the  symp- 
toms violent;  or  should  it  be  found  to  be  impossible  to  give  medicine 
by  the  mouth,  or  cause  them  to  act  by  injection,  the  most  prudent 
thing  will  be  to  have  recourse  to  the  butcher.  The  meat  will  not  be 
in  the  slightest  degree  injured,  for  it  is  a disease  that  is  rarely  accom- 
panied by  any  great  degree  of  fever. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

POISONS. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  spring,  and  before  the  different  vegetables 
have  attained  their  proper  growth  and  smell,  cattle  are  liable  to  be 
injured,  and  even  destroyed,  by  eating  poisonous  plants;  and  espe- 
cially when  they  are  turned  into  fresh  pasture.  In  some  countries 
and  in  some  seasons,  when  particular  plants  have  prevailed,  a great 
many  cattle  have  been  lost,  and  it  has  appeared  as  if  some  epidemic 
disease  was  raging,  until  a botanist,  accidentally  coming  into  that 
part  of  the  country,  has  discovered  the  true  cause  of  the  malady.  It 
is  a great  pity  that  farmers  and  graziers  are  not  sufficiently  acquainted 
with  botany  to  know  the  different  plants,  wholesome  and  poisonous, 
that  are  growing  in  their  fields.  It  is  a pleasing  study,  and  would  be 
an  exceedingly  useful  one  to  them. 

The  plants  that  are  the  most  dangerous  are  the  different  species  of 
hemlock,  and  particularly  the  water-hemlock,  the  fox-glove,  the  drop- 
wort,  and  some  of  the  species  of  crows-foot.  These  plants  are  not 
useful  for  any  purpose,  and  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  the  farmer  is  not 
able  to  recognize  them,  and  root  them  all  up.  Young  calves  and 
lambs,  until  they  have  added  some  experience  to  the  guidance  of  in- 
stinct, are  occasionally  lost  in  very  great  numbers. 

The  yew  is  a deadly  poison,  and  many  cattle  have  been  destroyed 
by  it;  but  they  seldom  browse  upon  it  when  green.  The  mischief, 
in  the  great  majority  of  cases,  is  done  by  the  half-dried  clippings  of 
some  formal  hedge-row  or  fantastic  tree.  In  this  state  cattle  are  ver£ 
apt  to  eat  great  quantities  of  the  leaves  or  shoots. 

Some  have  thought  that  cattle  are  poisoned  by  drinking  from  stag- 
nant pools,  full  of  venomous  insects  and  of  every  kind  of  decomposi- 
tion from  animal  and  vegetable  substances.  I doubt  the  truth  of  this ; 
for  the  cow  seems  to  be  naturally  one  of  the  foulest  drinkers  among 
our  domesticated  quadrupeds.  She  will  often  choose  the  most  filthy 
puddle  in  the  straw-yard  in  preference  to  the  clearest  running  stream 


POISONS.  145 

Nature  would  not  have  given  her  this  propensity  to  foul  and  putrid 
drink  if  it  was  prejudicial  to  her. 

The  symptoms  of  empoisonment  vary  with  the  plant  that  has  been 
devoured.  In  general  the  animal  moans  sadly,  as  if  in  dreadful  pain ; 
or  a sudden  stupidity  comes  upon  it  — or  violent  convulsions.  After 
eating  the  yew-clippings,  cattle  are  often  perfectly  delirious ; and  in 
almost  every  case  the  belly  more  rapidly  swells  than  it  usually  does 
in  hoove. 

It  is  plain  that  there  can  be  no  case  in  which  more  speedy  and  de- 
cisive measures  are  needed;  and  yet  very  little  can  be  done,  except 
that  useful  instrument,  far  too  little  known,  Read’s  patent  pump,  is  at 
hand.  The  pipe  should  be  introduced  into  the  paunch,  so  that  the 
extricated  gas  which  causes  the  swelling  may  escape.  After  this  a 
quantity  of  warm  water  should  be  thrown  into  the  stomach,  sufficient 
to  cause  sickness,  and  thus  get  rid  of  a part,  at  least,  of  the  offending 
matter.  Then,  by  introducing  the  pipe  only  a part  of  the  way  down 
the  gullet,  a physic-drink  may  be  gradually  introduced,  which  will 
thus  pass  on  to  the  fourth  stomach,  and  cause  speedy  purging.  The 
aloes  and  croton  (No.  47,  p.  Ill),  will  be  the  most  effectual  purga- 
tives. It  will  usually  be  advisable  to  bleed  moderately : drinks  of 
vinegar  and  water,  not  exceeding  half  a pint  of  vinegar  at  a time, 
should  be  administered  if  it  is  suspected  that  the  poison  is  of  a nar- 
cotic kind,  and  the  purging  should  be  kept  up  by  repeated  small 
doses  of  the  aperient  medicine.  When  the  poison  seems  to  be  nearly 
or  quite  evacuated,  a cordial  drink  will  be  beneficial  in  giving  tone  to 
the  stomach,  and  the  Recipe  31  (p.  79)  will  be  as  good  as  can  be 
given. 

Cattle  are  exposed  too  much  to  the  influence  of  poisons  of  another 
kind,  used  under  the  form  of  medicines.  Corrosive  sublimate  and 
tobacco-water  have  destroyed  many  a valuable  ox.  An  antidote  is  in 
these  cases  usually  quite  out  of  the  question,  for  the  constitution  is 
fatally  affected,  before  the  owner  knows  anything  of  the  matter. 

Cattle  in  the  neighbourhood  of  lead-mines  have  been  dangerously 
affected  from  the  effects  of  this  ore  in  the  grass.  Difficult  respiration 
with  loud  wheezing  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  symptoms,  the  beast 
losing  its  appetite,  pining  away,  and  at  length  dying  of  suffocation  or 
attacked  by  epileptic  symptoms.  Large  doses  of  Epsom  or  Glauber’s 
salts  with  linseed  oil,  and  followed  by  opium,  are  the  best  remedies. 
The  smoke  from  copper-mines  has  also  produced  sad  disease  amongst 
animals  in  the  neighbourhood  : it  causes  swellings  of  the  joints  of  a 
piinful  description.  An  early  removal  to  another  soil  forms  the  best 
treatment. 

Ranking  under  the  general  term  of  poisons,  we  may  mention  the 
bites  of  venomous  reptiles.  Our  country  fortunately  knows  but  one 
that  is  dangerous,  and  that  is  the  viper,  or  adder ; and  it  is  very  rarel) 
that  cattle  suffer  from  its  sting.  The  beast  i3  generally  stung  about 
the  head  or  feet,  for  it  is  most  likely  to  disturb  these  reptiles  either  in 
the  act  of  browsing,  or  as  it  wanders  over  the  pasture.  Cattle  bitten 


POISONS. 


106 

.n  the  tongue  almost  invariably  die.  They  are  suffocated  by  the  rapid 
swelling  which  takes  place.  The  udder  has  occasionally  been  stung; 
but  the  supposed  bites  on  the  teats  are,  far  oftener  than  otherwise, 
the  effect  of  garget. 

The  country  remedy  is  not  a bad  one,  viz.,  to  rub  the  part  well  with 
a bruised  onion.  Some  follow  this  up  by  cramming  another  onion 
down  the  throat.  A better  application  is  the  following : — 

RECIPE  (No.  49). 

Embrocation  for  Bite  of  Viper.— Take  hartshorn,  and  olive  oil,  equal  quantities. 
Shake  them  well  together,  and  rub  the  wound  and  the  neighbouring  parts  well  with 
the  liniment  morning  and  night. 

A quart  of  olive  oil  should  also  be  given  to  the  animal,  mixed  with 
an  ounce  of  hartshorn.  Oil  of  turpentine  may  be  used  when  harts- 
horn cannot  be  procured ; but  it  is  not  so  much  to  be  depended  upon. 

The  stings  of  hornets,  wasps,  and  bees,  in  some  cases  produce 
much  temporary  swelling  and  pain.  If  the  part  is  well  rubbed  with 
warm  vinegar,  the  inconvenience  will  soon  subside. 

Leech-bites  may  be  mentioned  here.  While  the  animal  is  drinking 
from  some  stagnant  pool,  a leech  will  occasionally  fasten  itself  on  the 
muzzle,  and  afterwards  creep  up  the  nostril,  and  produce  a very  con- 
siderable, and,  in  some  cases,  dangerous,  bleeding  by  its  bites.  If  the 
leech  can  be  seen,  or  it  is  in  a manner  certain  that  it  has  insinuated 
itself  into  the  nostril,  a little  strong  salt  and  water  should  be  injected 
up  the  nose,  which  will  immediately  dislodge  the  intruder,  if  it  can 
be  brought  into  contact  with  it. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

WO  UNDS. 

From  the  horns  of  their  companions,  and  from  the  brutal  violence 
of  those  who  look  after  them,  cattle  are  often  exposed  to  wounds. 
The  treatment  of  them  is  generally  simple  enough,  except  in  a joint, 
or  the  neighbourhood  of  one. 

The  first  thing  is  to  clean  the  wound  from  all  dirt  and  gravel,  which 
would  cause  irritation,  and  prevent  the  healing  of  the  part.  A good 
fomentation  with  warm  water  will  effect  this,  and  at  the  same  time 
will  help  to  abate  any  inflammation  which  may  probably  have  arisen 
Next  is  to  be  considered  the  state  of  the  wound.  Is  it  a lacerated 
)i  punctured  one  1 If  it  is  a lacerated  wound,  we  must  try  how  neatly 
we  can  bring  the  divided  parts  together.  If  there  are  any  portions  so 
torn  as  to  prevent  us  from  doing  this  completely,  they  should  be  re- 
moved with  a knife  or  a sharp  pair  of  scissors.  Then,  when  the  edges 
are  orought  well  together,  they  should  be  retained  by  passing  a needle 
and  strong  waxed  twine  deeply  through  them,  making  two.  or  three. 


WOUNDS. 


107 


jr  more  stitches  at  the  distance  of  half  an  inch  from  each  other.  A 
surgeon’s  crooked  needle,  or  a glover’s  large  triangularly  pointed 
needle,  will  be  necessary  for  this  purpose.  A little  dry  soft  clean  tow 
should  then  be  placed  over  the  wound,  and  the  whole  covered  by  a 
bandage  closely,  but  not  too  tightly  applied.  Let  none  of  the  farrier’s 
abominable  tents,  or  pledgets  of  tow,  be  introduced  : the  intervals 
between  the  stitches  will  be  quite  sufficient  to  permit  the  escape  of 
any  matter  that  may  be  formed.  The  "wound  should  not,  if  possible, 
be  opened  for  two  days  after  the  first  dressing. 

When  it  is  at  length  examined,  let  none  of  the  hot  torturing  appli- 
cations of  the  farrier  be  used.  If  it  looks  tolerably  healthy,  and  is 
going  on  well,  it  may  be  dressed  with  tincture  of  myrrh  and  aloes,  or  4, 
with  the  Healing  Ointment,  (No.  10,  p.  53),  or  with  both ; a pledget 
of  tow*  soaked  in  the  tincture  being  put  immediately  upon  the  wound, 
and  more  tow,  with  the  ointment  spread  upon  it,  placed vover  this. 

If  proud  flesh  should  begin  to  spring,  the  wound  should  be  first 
washed  with  a strong  solution  of  blue  vitriol,  and  then  dressed  with 
the  tincture ; or  if  the  discharge  is  very  offensive,  the  wound  should 
be  well  bathed  with  the  Disinfectant  Lotion,  (No.  34,  p.  85),  and 
then  the  tincture  applied.  It  is  high  time  for  all  the  disgraceful  tor- 
turing applications  of  the  farrier  and  cowleech  to  be  discarded,  espe- 
cially as  Nature  is  much  kinder  to  these  animals  than  she  is  to  us; 
and  wounds  that  would  in  the  human  being  puzzle  the  surgeon,  heal 
readily  in  cattle,  almost  without  any  application. 

If  it  is  a punctured  wound,  its  direction  and  depth  must  be  care- 
fully ascertained.  Fomentations  of  marsh-mallows,  or  poppy-heads 
boi’ed  in  water,  should  be  applied  for  a few  days,  in  order  to  abate 
inflammation,  and  the  tincture  of  aloes  and  myrrh  should  be  injecl  id 
into  the  wound  morning  and  night ; the  injured  parts  being  covered 
if  the  flies  are  troublesome,  but  otherwise  left  open.  If  the  wound 
runs  downwards  and  the  matter  cannot  escape,  but  collects  at  the 
bottom,  and  seems  to  be  spreading,  a seton  should  be  passed  into  the 
original  orifice,  and  directed  as  far  as  the  very  lowest  part  of  the 
sinus,  or  pipe,  and  there  brought  out.  There  is  never  occasion  for 
the  introduction  of  lint  into  these  wounds : if  they  are  well  syringed 
with  the  tincture  to  the  very  bottom,  and  a seton  passed  through  the 
sinus,  should  one  happen  to  be  formed,  they  will  do  very  well. 

From  the  yoke  being  too  heavy,  or  not  fitting  the  neck,  the  shoul- 
ders of  oxen  will  sometimes  get  sadly  wrung,  and  deep  ulcers  will 
be  produced,  resembling  fistulous  withers  in  the  horse.  These  ulcers 
are  very  troublesome  to  deal  with.  The  secret,  however,  of  properly 
treating  them,  is  to  pass  a seton  through  the  very  bottom  of  the  ulcer,  • 
in  order  that  the  matter  may  flow  freely  out:  then,  in  the  majority  of 
cases,  the  wound  will  readily  heal,  or  if  it  should  not,  the  diabolical 
scalding  mixtures  of  the  farrier  are  never  wanted.  If  I allowed  any 
scalding  mixture  it  would  be  boiling  tar,  because  tar  boils  at  a very 
low  degree  of  temperature.  The  surface  of  the  wound  would  be  suf- 
ficiently stimulated,  and  the  life  of  the  part  would  not  be  destroyed; 

8 


108 


WOUNDS. 


but  he  who  pours  in  his  boiling  oil,  or  his  corrosive  sublimate,  de 
serves  never  more  to  possess,  or  to  be  permitted  medically  to  treat,  t 
beast.  In  obstinate  cases  diluted  nitric  acid  (one  part  of  nitric  acid 
and  two  of  water)  may  be  applied  over  the  surface  of  the  ulcer,  with 
a pencil  or  sponge. 

'When  a tumour  is  forming  on  the  shoulder  from  the  pressure  of 
the  collar,  every  attempt  should  be  made  to  disperse  it.  A saturated 
solution  of  common  salt  will  often  be  useful,  or  sal  ammoniac  dis- 
solved in  eight  times  its  weight  of  water ; but  the  best  discutient 
application  is  the  following : — 

RECIPE  (No.  50.) 

Discutient  Lotion. — Take,  bay  salt,  four  ounces ; vinegar,  one  pint ; water,  a quart  \ 
oil  of  origanum,  a drachm.  Add  the  oil  to  the  salt  first,  rub  them  well  down  with  a 
little  water,  then  gradually  add  the  rest  of  the  water  and  the  vinegar. 

The  part  should  not  only  be  wetted  with  this  embrocation,  but 
gently,  yet  well  rubbed  with  it. 

Should  the  swelling  still  increase,  and,  on  feeling  it,  matter  should 
evidently  be  formed,  the  sooner  the  tumour  is  opened  the  better,  and 
the  best  way  to  open  it  is  to  pass  a seton  from  the  top  through  the 
lowest  part  of  it. 

Oxen  are  very  apt  to  be  wounded  in  the  feet.  If  this  is  soon  dis- 
covered, all  that  will  be  necessary  is  to  apply  a pledget  of  tow  wetted 
with  tincture  of  aloes,  confining  it  between  the  claws  with  a bandage, 
or  to  touch  the  part  lightly  with  the  butyr  of  antimony.  When  the 
application  of  the  caustic  is  necessary,  there  is  no  need  to  apply  it 
with  the  severity  used  by  some,  so  as  to  corrode  the  parts  to  the  very 
bone. 

If  the  wound  is  extensive,  and  accompanied  by  much  swelling, 
heat,  and  pain,  and  especially  if  the  beast  should  begin  to  lose  its 
appetite,  and  to  heave  at  the  flanks,  it  will  be  prudent  both  to  physic 
and  to  bleed. 

If  much  contusion  or  bruise  attends  the  wound,  and  which  is  very 
likely  to  happen  when  cattle  are  gadding  about  and  breaking  out  of 
their  pastures  in  summer,  and  especially  when  strange  beasts  are 
intermixed,  the  previous  fomentation  will  be  more  than  usually  neces- 
sary, in  order  to  prevent  inflammation,  and  to  disperse  or  favour  the 
escape  of  the  effused  blood.  The  fomentations  should  be  continued 
during  half  an  hour  at  each  time,  and  repeated  three  or  four  times  in 
the  day.  The  flannels  should  be  applied  dripping  wet,  and  as  hot 
as  the  hand  can  bear  them. 

If  the  wound  penetrates  the  cavity  of  the  chest,  as  it  sometimes 
will  when  one  beast  gores  another,  it  will  be  necessary  to  bring  the 
parts  more  accurately  together,  and  to  confine  them  by  closer  stitches ; 
a piece  of  adhesive  plaister  should  then  be  placed  over  the  wound, 
and  secured  by  the  application  of  proper  rollers  or  bandages.  If  tho 
air  is  suffered  to  pass  in  and  out  of  the  wound  for  any  considerable 
time,  the  edges  of  it  will  be  indisposed  to  unite  together  and  to  heal. 


WOUNDS.  ito* 

and  the  pleura  or  lining  of  the  chest  will  probably  become  inflamed 
by  the  unnatural  presence  of  air  in  the  cavity  of  the  chest. 

Should  the  belly  be  wounded,  and  a portion  of  the  bowels  protrude, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  calculate  the  probability  of  being  able  to  return 
them  into  their  proper  situation,  and  healing  the  wound : for  in  many 
of  these  cases  the  best  thing  the  farmer  can  do  is  to  send  the  animal 
at  once  to  the  butcher.  If  a cure  is  attempted,  all  dirt  and  clotted 
blood  should  be  carefully  removed  from  the  protruded  intestine  with 
a sponge  and  warm  water.  It  must  then  be  cautiously  returned  into 
the  belly,  and  the  edges  of  the  wound  brought  together  and  secured 
by  very  close  stitches.  After  that,  rollers  or  bandages  must  be  passed 
round  the  belly,  and  which,  being  removed  only  while  the  wound  is 
dressed,  must  remain  until  a cure  is  completed,  and  for  a few  days 
afterwards. 

In  all  these  cases  a veterinary  surgeon  should  be  consulted.  He 
alone  is  able  to  give  an  accurate  opinion  as  to  the  probability  of  a 
cure,  and  to  guard  against  a thousand  accidents  and  annoyances  that 
are  likely  to  occur  in  the  treatment  of  such  & case. 

Many  persons  are  frightened  when  they  see  the  profuse  bleeding 
which  sometimes  takes  place  from  deep  or  lacerated  wounds.  Ex- 
cept some  large  arterial  trunk  is  divided,  there. is  little  or  no  danger 
of  the  animal  bleeding  to  death.  When  a certain  quantity  of  blood 
is  lost  the  stream  will  flow  slowly,  and  a coagulum,  or  clot  of  blood, 
will  be  formed  in  the  vessel,  and  plug  it  up,  and  afford  a mechanica. 
obstruction  to  the  haemorrhage.  Sufficient  blood,  however,  may  be 
lost,  to  interfere  very  materially  with  the  condition  of  the  beast,  and 
to  leave  considerable  and  lasting  weakness  behind.  We  are  there- 
fore anxious  to  stop  the  bleeding  as  soon  as  we  can 

Where  the  situation  will  admit  of  it,  a dossil  of  lint,  placed  upon 
or  in  the  wound,  and  secured  by  a firm  bandage,  will  often  be  effectual. 
If  the  vessel  is  but  partly  closed  by  the  pressure  of  the  lint,  yet  that 
* may  be  sufficient  to  produce  a coagulation  of  the  blood,  and  the  con- 
sequent stoppage  of  the  stream. 

The  next  preferable  way  of  proceeding  is  to  endeavour  to  pass  a 
ligature  round  the  bleeding  vessel.  This  is  often  practicable  by  means 
of  a tenaculum  or  any  hooked  instrument,  by  which  it  may  be  drawn 
a little  from  its  situation,  and  some  waxed  silk  or  twine  passed  round 
it.  Sometimes  it  may  be  laid  hold  of  with  a pair  of  forceps  or  small 
pincers,  and  so  secured ; or,  should  neither  of  these  methods  be  prac- 
ticable, a crooked  or  glover’s  needle,  armed  with  waxed  silk,  may 
be  plunged  into  the  flesh  or  cellular  membrane  in  two  or  three  places 
around  the  wound,  and  when  the  silk  is  tightened  the  vein  or  artery 
will  probably  be  compressed  and  closed.  The  hot  iron  is  sometimes 
applied,  but  usually  a great  deal  too  hot,  so*  as  to  destroy  the  life  of 
the  part,  instead  of  simply  searing  it,  and  thus  causing  renewed 
haemorrhage  when  the  dead  part  is  thrown  off.  As  for  styptic  powders 
or  lotions,  they  appear  to  have  little  or  no  effect  in  stopping  profuse 
bleeding  in  cattle. 


110 


WO’INDS. 


The  bleeding  is  generally  arrested  with  most  difficulty  when  the 
horn  is  broken  off  in  some  of  the  fights  among  the  cattle.  The  bone 
of  the  horn  is  full  of  blood-vessels,  and  it  is  only  by  plaister  after 
plaister  of  tar  that  a compress  is  made  all  round  the  horn,  and  through 
which  the  blood  cannot  penetrate.  These  plaisters  should  not  be 
removed  for  many  days,  otherwise  the  bleeding  from  such  a vascular 
part  will  return. 

Of  aF  the  wounds,  however,  to  which  cattle  are  occasionally  ex- 
posed, the  most  dangerous  are  those  about  the  joints,  and  especially 
when  the  joint  itself  is  penetrated.  The  ox  is  not  so  subject  to  this 
as  the  horse  ; but  the  fetlock  and  the  knee  are  occasionally  deeply 
wounded,  and  the  joint  laid  open,  either  by  falling,  or  by  being  bru- 
tally wounded  by  a fork. 

Here,  as  in  all  other  wounds,  the  first  thing  to  be  done  is  carefully 
to  wash  away  all  dirt  and  gravel.  The  probe  must  then  be  introduced  ; 
and  the  depth  to  which  it  will  penetrate,  and,  more  particularly,  the 
grating  sound  which  will  be  heard  when  it  comes  into  contact  with 
the  bone,  will  generally  determine  whether  the  joint  has  been  injured. 
If  any  doubt  remains  about  this,  a poultice  should  be  applied.  This 
will  not  only  abate  or  prevent  inflammation,  but  if  the  joint  has  been 
penetrated,  the  synovia,  or  joint  oil,  will  escape,  and  appear  upon  the 
poultice  in  the  form  of  a glairy,  yellowish  fluid.  Then  there  is  no 
doubt  as  to  the  course  to  be  pursued.  The  flow  of  this  must  be  stopped, 
and  that  immediately.  It  was  placed  there  to  be  interposed  between 
the  ends  of  the  bones,  and  thus  to  prevent  them  rubbing  against  each 
other,  and  becoming  irritated  or  inflamed.  The  membrane  with  which 
the  heads  of  the  hones  are  covered  is  in  the  highest  degree  sensitive, 
and  with  the  slightest  injury  produces  inflammation,  attended  by  the 
extremest  torture.  There  is  no  agony  equal  to  that  caused  by  an 
opened  joint.  We  must  then  confine  the  interposed  joint  oil,  and 
prevent  this  dreadful  friction  between  the  membranes. 

There  are  two  ways  of  accomplishing  this.  That  which  seems  to 
be  the  most  humane  is  to  place  a small  compress  on  the  part, .exactly 
covering  the  wound ; to  bind  it  down  tight,  and  not  to  remove  it  for 
many  days.  Yet  it  has  often  happened  that  when  the  compress  has 
at  length  been  taken  off,  the  joint  oil  has  flowed  as  quickly  as  before: 
therefore,  I believe,  we  must  go  back  to  the  old  method,  and  apply 
the  hot  iron  to  the  wound.  The  iron,  being  of  a dull  red  heat,  should 
be  run  lightly  across  the  surface  of  the  wound  in  various  directions, 
the  consequence  of  which  will  be  that  so  much  inflammation  and 
swelling  will  usually  be  produced,  as  fairly  to  block  up  the  orifice 
with  that  which  soon  becomes  organized,  or  converted  into  the  same 
substance  as  that  in  contact  with  which  it  is  placed,  and  thus  the 
opening  into  the  joint  is  securely  and  for  ever  stopped ; or,  should  the 
joint  oil  in  a very  few  cases  afterwards  flow  a little  again,  a re-appli- 
cation  of  the  iron  will  put  an  end  to  the  business : the  sore  may  then 
be  treated  as  a common  wound. 

In  many  cases  a lotion  composed  of  corrosive  sublimate  dissolved 


WOUNDS. 


Ill 


in  spirits  of  wine,  applied  several  times  a day  to  the  surface  of  the 
wound,  only  until  the  joint  oil  disappears,  will  answer  the  purpose 
better  than  the  hot  iron.  In  very  severe  cases,  where  the  carcase  of 
the  animal  is  of  trifling  value,  and  it  is  therefore  desirable  to  attempt 
a cure  at  all  risks,  the  application  of  a paste  made  with  flour,  and 
firmly  bound  round  the  part  by  a number  of  linen  bandages,  will,  by 
preventing  the  flow  of  joint  oil,  succeed  in  closing  the  joint  in  manj 
cases:  the  bandages,  however,  should  not  be  removed  for  several 
weeks,  and  if  necessary  the  animal  may  be  slung. 

Should,  however,  the  wound  be  very  large,  and  the  opening  into 
the  joint  large  too,  it  will  usually  be  prudent  to  destroy  the  animal  at 
once,  especially  if  it  is  in  tolerable  condition.  A dead  horse  is  worth 
comparatively  little,  but  a dead  ox,  fairly  slaughtered,  will  produce 
its  full  value.  Therefore,  the  possibility  of  a cure  not  being  effected, 
or  of  the  animal  materially  losing  condition  while  the  cure  is  attempt- 
ed to  be  performed,  should  always  be  taken  into  account;  and  in 
cases  where  the  meat  is  not  injured  it  should  be  inquired  whether  the 
expense  and  trouble,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  animal,  should  not  be 
at  once  terminated  by  the  butcher. 

These  are  the  only  means  that  should  be  used.  When  the  farrier 
or  the  cow-leach  wants  to  inject  his  corrosive  sublimate,  or  his  oil  of 
vitriol,  let  no  consideration  tempt  the  farmer  to  comply.  It  is  cruel 
work,  and  it  does  not  succeed  in  one  case  out  of  ten. 

These  cautions  are  repeated  again  and  again,  for  it  begins  now  to 
be  generally  felt  and  acknowledged,  that  we  have  no  right  to  torture 
and  abuse  our  quadruped  servants. 

In  every  joint  case  it  will  be  prudent  to  bleed,  and  administer  a 
dose  of  physic,  and  use  all  proper  means  to  prevent  or  abate  fever. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

STRAINS  AND  BRUISES. 

The  ox  is  not  so  subject  as  the  horse  to  strains,  for  his  work  is 
slower  and  usually  less  laborious.  The  horse  is  seldom  strained  at 
slow  and  steady  work,  and  that  only  is  generally  exacted  from  the 
ox.  The  principal  cause  of  strain  in  these  animals  arises  from  their 
contests  with,  or  their  riding  or  ramping  each  other. 

In  recent  strains,  attended  with  lameness  and  heat,  the  following 
is  one  of  the  best  embrocations  that  can  be  used  : — 

RECIPE  (No.  51). 

Embrocation  for  Strains. — Take  bay  salt,  four  ounces ; oil  of  origanum,  one  drachm  j 
rub  them  well  together,  until  the  salt  is  reduced  to  a powder,  then  add  vinegar,  half  a 
pint ; sprits  of  wine,  two  ounces ; water,  a quart. 


112 


STRAINS  AND  BRUISES. 


Bathe  the  part  frequently  with  this  embrocation.  There  cannot  ba 
a hetter  application  for  strains  or  bruises  in  the  horse  or  cattle,  or 
even  in  the  human  being,  when  the  skin  is  not  broken.  When  the 
heat  and  tenderness  have  somewdiat  subsided,  and  only  weakness  <Ji 
the  part  remains,  the  Rheumatic  Embrocation  (Recipe  No.  9,  p.  52) 
will  be  serviceable. 

Frequent  fomentations  with  warm  water  should  precede  the  use  of 
these  embrocations.  In  bad  cases  it  may  be  prudent  to  give  a dose 
of  physic,  or  even  to  bleed. 

For  very  deeply-seated  strains  a more  powerful  application  may  bt 
necessary.  Then  use  the  following : — 

RECIPE  (No.  52). 

Strongest  Embrocation  for  Strains.— Take  spirit  of  turpentine,  half  a pint ; oil  of 
origanum,  half  an  ounce  ; olive  oil,  a pint  and  a half;  cantharides,  one  ounce.  Mix 
them  together,  shake  them  often,  and  keep  them  in  a bottle  for  use. 

This  should  be  well  rubbed  in  morning  and  night.  It  is  not  in- 
tended absolutely  to  blister  the  animal;  and  should  the  embrocation 
cause  much  redness  or  tenderness,  it  may  be  lowered  with  an  equal 
quantity  of  olive  oil. 

After  all,  a considerable  degree  of  weakness  and  lameness  will 
occasionally  remain,  and  especially  about  the  hips  and  loins.  A 
strengthening  plaster  will  be  very  useful  here.  It  is  best  applied  in 
the  form  of  a charge. 

RECIPE  (No.  53). 

Charge  for  old  Strains  or  Lameness. — Take  Burgundy  pitch,  four  ounces;  common 
pitch,  four  ounces  ; yellow  wax,  two  ounces ; Barbadoes  tar,  six  ounces.  Melt  them 
together  in  a ladle,  and  apply  the  mixture  to  the  parts  when  thoroughly  warm  and 
liquid. 

A little  short  tow  is  then  placed  over  this,  before  it  gets  cool,  and 
which,  adhering  to  it,  forms  a thick  coat  over  it.  The  charge  acts  as 
a support  to  the  part,  and  as  a permanent  bandage.  It  can  never  do 
harm ; and  many  an  old  strain,  or  lameness,  or  rheumatic  affection, 
has  been  effectually  removed  by  it.  It  should  remain  on  the  part  two 
or  three  months,  in  order  to  ensure  its  full  success ; and  after  the  ap- 
plication of  the  charge,  the  beast  should  be  turned  out. 

Although  not  exposed  so  much  as  the  horse  to  strains  generally, 
yet  there  is  one  joint  — the  fetlock  — in  the  ox,  which  often  suffers. 
The  division  of  the  lower  part  of  the  leg  into  two  bones  materially 
weakens  this  joint : therefore  it  is  not  unusual  to  see  enlarged  fetlocks, 
and  a considerable  accumulation  of  bone  about  them.  The  mild  and 
the  strong  embrocation  must  in  turns  be  diligently  applied,  and  these 
failing  of  success,  recourse  must  be  speedily  had  to  the  blister,  or  the 
firing  iron ; but,  if  these  should  not  be  successful,  and  the  lameness 
Is  so  considerable  as  to  injure  the  condition  of  the  animal,  relief  can 
be  obtained  by  dividing  the  nerve  which  supplies  the  foot  above  the 
fetlock,  thereby  removing  pain  and  lameness  by  destroying  sen 
sation 


CANCEROUS  ULCERS.  1.3 

Fractures  of  the  leg  sometimes  occur ; they  have  been  successfully 
treated  by  bandaging  the  parts,  and  keeping  the  animal  quiet 

The  leg  too  has  even  been  amputated  with  success,  a wooden  leg 
being  afterwards  substituted. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

CANCEROUS  ULCERS, 

There  seems  to  be  a natural  disposition  in  cattle  to  the  formation 
of  tumours  on  various  parts  of  the  body.  They  are  mostly  found  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  joints,  and  generally  either  hanging  loose,  oi 
slightly  adhering  to  the  parts  beneath.  They  sometimes  grow  to  an 
excessive  size.  In  some  cases  they  are  evidently  constitutional,  for 
many  of  them  appear  on  different  parts.  They  do  not  seem  to  give 
much  pain  to  the  animal,  and  occasionally  they  continue  month  after 
month  without  being  of  any  serious  inconvenience : they  then  suddenly 
break,  and  a malignant  ulcer  ensues,  which  speedily  degenerates  intc 
a cancerous  one. 

The  tumours  are  sometimes  smaller,  and  fixed  to  the  parts  beneath 
by  a broad  base,  and  which  are  chiefly  found  about  the  face,  on  the 
cheeks,  or  under  the  eyelids,  or  in  the  channel  between  the  jaws. 
These  are  more  likely  to  break  than  the  others,  and  when  they  break 
are  far  less  manageable.  The  fluid  that  is  discharged  from  them  is 
thin  and  excoriating,  and  the  wounds  are  covered  with  proud  flesh, 
springing  again  as  quickly  as  it  is  removed.  If  they  are  attacked 
before  they  break  they  will  generally  be  got  rid  of. 

As  an  external  application  nothing  is  superior  to  the  Iodine  Oint- 
ment, (No.  *25,  p.  69). 

At  the  same  time  a drachm  of  the  tincture  of  iodine  may  be  given 
in  a little  gruel  morning  and  night,  at  or  soon  after  the  time  of  feed- 
ing; or  the  Hydriodate  of  Potash,  beginning  with  four  grains  morn- 
ing and  night,  and  gradually  increasing  the  dose  to  twelve  grains. 
This  preparation  of  iodine  is  preferable  to  the  tincture;  but  the  inter- 
nal and  the  external  use  of  the  iodine  must  be  continued  at  least  three 
or  four  weeks,  before  any  decisive  benefit  will  be  obtained.  The 
tumours  will  frequently  disappear  altogether;  but  the  ointment  and 
tincture  must  be  used  for  at  least  a month  before  any  decisive  good 
can  be  expected 

If  the  tumours  at  the  end  of  that  time  should  not  be  evidently 
diminishing,  the  veterinary  surgeon  should  begin  to  think  about 
removing  them  with  the  knife.  They  are  seldom  fed  by  any  very 
considerable  vessel,  and  may  usually  be  taken  away  without  the 
slightest  danger.  It  will  however  be  prudent  to  give  the  tincture  of 
iodine  for  three  weeks  or  a month  after  the  operation,  in  order  to  re- 
move the  constitutional  tendency  to  a return  of  the  tumours. 

10# 


14 


ANGLE  BERRIES 


It  will  in  the  majority  of  cases  be  useless  to  attempt  to  heal  these 
tumours  when  they  have  once  broken.  Strong  ointments,  and  caustics 
of  all  kinds,  have  been  tried,  but  the  ulcer  has  daily  spread  and  gone 
deeper  and  deeper,  until  it  became  necessary  to  destroy  the  animal. 
If  anything  is  attempted  in  the  way  of  healing  the  ulcers,  the  wound 
should  be  washed  before  every  dressing  with  the  tincture  of  iodine, 
lowered  with  four  times  its  weight  of  water,  and  the  Healing  Clean- 
sing Ointment  (Recipe  10,  p.  53)  be  daily  applied. 

These  tumours  are  often  very  troublesome  to  treat,  and  the  prefer- 
able way  will  generally  be  to  remove  them  as  soon  as  possible  with 
the  knife,  except  more  should  be  found  on  any  other  part  of  the  beast, 
in  which  case  the  removal  of  the  principal  tumour  would  only  hasten 
the  growth  of  the  rest.  Mercurial  ointment  will  have  no  effect  on 
these  tumours,  except  to  irritate  them,  and  cause  them  to  grow  faster, 
and  sometimes  it  will  salivate  and  seriously  injure  the  beast. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

ANGLE  BERRIES. 

These  are  little  warty  tumours  growing  on  various  parts  of  the 
skin.  They  are  unpleasant  to  the  eye,  and  they  sometimes  become 
very  sore. 

They  are  a sad  nuisance  about  the  teats,  and  often  render  the  cow 
very  difficult  to  milk;  and,  on  the  eyelids,  they  are  a source  of  per- 
petual torment  to  the  animal.  The  easiest  and  surest  way  to  remove 
them  is  to  tie  a piece  of  waxed  silk  firmly  round  the  base  of  each, 
and  to  tighten  it  every  day:  by  means  of  this  the  tumour  will  drop 
off,  and  rarely  grow  again ; there  will  be  no  bleeding,  and  the  neigh- 
bouring parts  will  not  be  inoculated. 

If  they  are  so  numerous  and  large  that  it  is  necessary  to  have  re- 
course to  the  cautery,  the  heated  iron  should  be  immediately  applied 
to  the  angle  berry.  The  bleeding  will  thus  be  readily  stopped,  and 
the  tumour  will  not  sprout  anew. 

If  they  are  early  attended  to,  and  before  they  have  reached  any 
considerable  size,  they  will  gradually  disappear  when  they  are  daily 
touched  with  the  nitrate  of  silver,  either  in  substance,  or  in  the  form 
of  a strong  solution.  The  strong  nitrous  acid  will  answer  the  same 
purpose.  When  there  is  an  inveterate  disposition  to  the  growth  of 
these  berries,  the  iodine  may  be  given,  as  already  directed,  with  even 
prospect  of  success. 


THE  FOUL  IN  THE  FOOT. 


II- 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

THE  FOUL  IN  THE  FOOT. 

Tins  is  also  a troublesome  and  obstinate  disease.  It  consists  of 
alcers  of  the  foot,  usually  about  the  coronet,  running  under  the  horn 
and  causing  more  or  less  separation  of  it,  with  intense  pain  and  lame- 
ness. It  is  produced  by  cattle  being  pastured  too  long  on  wet  and 
poachy  land,  or  their  being  driven  too  far  over  a hard  and  flinty  road. 
It  generally  first  appears  between  the  claws  in  the  form  of  a crack, 
extending  from  the  coronet  down  the  foot,  with  considerable  inflam- 
mation, and  the  discharge  of  a stinking  matter  or  pus.  At  other  times 
a little  swelling  appears  on  the  coronet  between  the  hair  and  hoof, 
which  breaks,  and  likewise  discharges  much  stinking  matter ; and 
on  being  examined  with  a probe,  a sinus  or  pipe  will  be  discovered 
descending  from  the  coronet  down  the  foot  and  under  the  horn.  The 
pain  is  often  so  great  that  the  animal  altogether  refuses  his  food,  and 
becomes  as  thin  as  a skeleton.  The  being  pricked  in  shoeing  is  not 
an  unfrequent  cause  of  foul  in  the  foot,  especially  if  the  ox  be  hardly 
worked  afterwards,  or  turned  on  damp  and  boggy  grounds.  It  very 
much  resembles  quittor  in  the  horse,  and  must  be  treated  in  the  same 
way. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  examine  the  wound  carefully,  and 
see  how  far  it  extends  under  the  horn.  If  there  is  little  or  no  under 
running,  the  case  may  be  easily  and  successfully  treated.  The -country 
practice  is  to  clean  the  part  carefully,  and  then  take  a small  cart-rope, 
or  a pair  of  cow-hopples,  and  chafe  them  backward  and  forward  be- 
tween the  claws  for  four  or  five  minutes,  and  afterwards  to  dress  the 
sore  with  a little  butyr  of  antimony,  and  turn  the  beast  into  a dry 
pasture. 

I should  object  to  this,  that  it  seems  to  be  a very  rough  and  cruel 
way  of  going  to  work.  All  that  is  necessary  is,  after  cleaning  the 
part  well,  to  cut  away  all  loose  or  separated  horn,  and  all  proud  flesh, 
and  then  lightly  apply  the  butyr  to  the  sore.  There  will  not  be  much 
difficulty  in  effecting  a cure  if  the  case  is  taken  in  time,  and  the  sore 
itept  dry  while  under  treatment. 

Should,  however,  the  pasterns  swTell,  and  be  hot  arid  tender,  as 
they  will  do  if  the  case  has  been  neglected,  or  any  gravel  has  in- 
sinuated itself  between  the  horn  and  the  foot,  the  wound  must  be 
more  carefully  examined,  every  sinus  must  be  laid  open  to  the  very 
bottom,  and  cleansed,  and  touched  with  the  caustic.  A poultice  of 
linseed  meal  should  then  be  applied,  and  changed  morning  and  night 
until  the  swelling  and  inflammation  have  subsided,  when  the  caustic 
may  be  again  employed,  but  not  more  severely  than  the  case  seems 
to  require.  It  is  the  frequent  light  application  of  the  butyr,  and  no 


llfi 


TO  DRY  A COW  OP  HER  MILK. 


the  cruel  burning  to  the  very  bone,  that  will  soonest  and  most  per- 
fectly effect  a cure. 

In  a few  cases  the  foul  in  the  foot  cannot  be  traced  to  any  external 
injury,  but  seems  to  be  the  result  of  natural  foulness  of  the  habit.  It 
then  resembles  grease  in  the  horse,  and  must  be  similarly  treated.  A 
brisk  dose  of  physic  should  be  given,  and  when  that  has  ceased  to 
operate,  the  Diuretic  Drink  (No.  26,  p.  69)  every  morning.  The 
sores,  if  foul  and  hot,  should  be  cleaned  and  cooled  by  poulticing  for 
a few  days,  and  then  the  feet  should  be  washed  morning  and  night 
with  a tolerably  strong  solution  of  alum  in  water.  A moderate  bleed- 
ing will  be  serviceable  in  such  a case.  It  should  not  be  forgotten 
that  foul  in  the  foot  is  a highly  infectious  disease,  and  that  the  lame 
beast  should  be  speedily  removed  from  his  companions. 

Foul  in  the  foot  is  a most  serious  disease  when  it  breaks  out  in  a 
dairy.  It  preys  upon  the  health  of  the  animal,  and  thus,  to  a degree 
almost  incredible,  lessens  the  quantity  of  milk  which  the  animal 
yields.  The  grazier  likewise  severely  suffers  when  it  retards  the 
fattening  of  his  store-cattle.  Much  suffering  speedily  and  most  inju- 
riously preys  upon  these  animals.  They  were  not  designed  to  endure 
it,  or  to  be  exposed  to  the  usual  exciting  causes  of  it.  Lameness  in 
cattle  should,  therefore,  never  be  for  a moment  neglected. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

TO  DRY  A COW  OF  HER  MILK. 

It  is  often  necessary  to  dry  up  the  milk  when  cows  are  wanted 
speedily  to  fatten,  and  this  is  now  and  then  found  to  be  a difficult 
matter,  especially  with  large  and  gross  beasts.  If  the  flow  of  milk  is 
suffered  to  continue,  it  may  overload  the  udder,  and  produce  inflam- 
mation of  it,  or  garget,  or  general  fever,  or  inflammation  of  the  lungs, 
or  foul  in  the  foot. 

The  best  time  to  dry  the  cows  is  very  early  in  the  spring,  when 
they  are  eating  dry  meat.  A good  dose  of  physic,  followed  by  mild 
astringent  drinks,  will  usually  settle  the  business,  especially  if  she 
is  moderately  bled  before  the  physic  is  given.  Alum  in  the  form  of 
whey  (No.  19,  p.  64),  or  dissolved  in  water,  will  be  the  most  effectual, 
as  well  as  the  safest  astringent.  Six  drachms  will  be  the  medium 
dose.  The  cow  may  be  milked  clean  when  the  astringent  is  given, 
and  then  turned  on  some  dry  upland  pasture. 

Two  days  afterwards  she  should  be  examined,  and  if  the  udder  is 
not  overloaded,  nor  hard  nor  hot,  the  milking  may  be  discontinued; 
but  if  the  udder  is  hard  and  full,  and  especially  if  it  is  hot,  she  should 
oe  fetched  home,  cleanly  milked,  and  another  astringent  drink  given. 
The  third  drink,  if  it  is  necessary  to  give  one,  should  be  an  aperient 


THE  MANGE. 


il 


one,  and  after  that  the  Diuretic  Drink  (No.  26,  p.  69)  every  second 
day. 

The  milking  should  only  be  resorted  to  if  the  state  of  the  udder 
absolutely  requires  it,  for  every  act  of  milking  is  but  encouraging  the 
secretion  of  milk. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

THE  MANGE . 

This  is  a troublesome  and  a disgraceful  disease.  It  argues  bad 
management  in  some  way  or  other.  An  occasional  cause  is  over- 
feeding, especially  with  hot,  stimulating  food.  A more  frequent  one 
is  starvation  in  the  winter,  by  which  the  animal  is  so  much  debilitated 
that  he  cannot  support  the  change  of  diet  when  the  flush  of  grass 
comes  on,  and  nature,  overloaded,  relieves  herself  by  this  eruption  on 
the  skin.  A third  cause  is  filth,  and  in  the  cow-houses  of  many  little 
farmers  it  is  not  an  unfrequent  one.  The  last  cause  that  I shall  men- 
tion is  contagion  : mange  is  highly  contagious,  and  if  it  gets  into  a 
dairy  will  often  run  through  all  the  cows. 

When  there  is  not  much  eruption,  the  disease  is  recognised  by  the 
hide-bound  appearance  of  the  animal ; the  dryness  and  harshness  of 
the  hair;  its  readily  coming  off;  the  beast  continually  rubbing  him- 
self ; and  a white  scurfiness,  but  not  often  much  scabbiness,  being 
seen  on  various  parts. 

Medicine  alone  will  be  of  no  avail  here.  The  beast  must  be  dressed. 
There  is  no  occasion  to  use  anything  poisonous  for  this  purpose,  as 
cow-leeches  are  too  much  in  the  habit  of  doing.  The  corrosive  subli- 
mate and  hellebore  and  tobacco  should  rarely  be  suffered  in  the  dairy. 
They  have  destroyed  hundreds  of  cattle. 

The  most  effectual  application  is  an  ointment  of  which  sulphur  is 
tne  principal  ingredient.  Some  mercurial  ointment,  however,  must 
be  added,  but  in  no  great  quantity,  for  cattle  will  lick  themselves, 
and  salivation  may  ensue.  There  is  nothing  so  injurious  to  the  milk, 
or  to  the  fattening  of  the  beast,  as  salivation,  even  in  a slight  degree. 

RECIPE  (No.  54). 

Mange  Ointment . — Take  flower  of  sulphur,  a pound;  strong  mercurial  ointment 
two  ounces;  common  turpentine,  half  a pound;  lard,  a pound  and  a half.  Melt  the 
turpentine  and  the  lard  together,  well  stir  in  the  sulphur  when  these  begin  to  cool ; 
and  afterwards  rub  down  the  mercurial  ointment  on  a marble  slab,  with  the  other 
ingredients. 

This  should  be  well  rubbed  in  with  the  hand  daily,  wherever  there 
is  mange,  the  hair  being  carefully  separated  where  the  affected  part 
is  covered  by  it.  No  possible  danger  can  happen  from  the  prolonged 
ise  of  Chi?  omtment  if  the  animal  is  not  exposed  to  severe  cold. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  SKIN. 


il8 

Alterative  medicine  will  materially  assist  the  cure.  The  following 
may  be  given  without  injury  to  the  milk,  and  without  any  precaution 
being  needed  : — 

RECIPE  (No.  55). 

Alterative  Drink  — Take  flower  of  sulphur,  two  ounces;  black  sulphuret  of  anti 
mony,  one  ounce  ; iEthiop’s  mineral,  half  an  ounce;  nitre,  two  ounces.  Mix,  and 
ilivide  into  four  powders;  give  one  every  second  morning  in  a little  thick  gruel. 
Turning  into  a salt  marsh  will  be  an  excellent  auxiliary. 

Connected  with  mange,  generally  accompanying  it,  and  often  pro- 
ducing it,  are  lice . The  presence  of  these  vermin  argues  extreme 
negligence,  and  is  an  absolute  disgrace  to  the  farmer.  They  rapidly 
spread  from  cow  to  cow ; the  slightest  touch  transfers  some  of  them 
from  one  beast  to  another;  they  are  crawling  continually  in  the  stable 
or  on  the  pasture ; and  although  they  are  never  originally  bred  in  the 
skin  of  a diseased  animal,  yet  in  one  that  has  been  half  starved  or 
mangy,  and  whose  coat  clings  to  the  skin,  and  will  not  come  off 
when  nature  usually  sheds  it,  these  vermin  find  too  favourable  a 
shelter.  They  are  both  the  consequence  and  the  cause  of  mange, 
and  other  affections  of  the  skin.  Myriads  of  them  are  sometimes 
found  on  the  poor  beast,  teazing  it  almost  to  death. 

The  mange  ointment  above  recommended  will  often  be  effectual  in 
destroying  them,  or  should  it  not  be  sufficiently  powerful,  a weaker 
kind  of  mercurial  ointment  may  be  applied. 

RECIPE  (No.  56). 

Mercurial  Ointment  for  Vermin. — Take  strong  mercurial  ointment,  one  ounce; 
lard,  seven  ounces.  Mix  them  well  together,  and  rub  the  ointment  well  on  wherever 
the  lice  appear. 

Some  prefer  a lotion : the  best  is — 

RECIPE  (No.  57). 

Lotion  for  Vermin.— Take  corrosive  sublimate,  two  drachms ; rub  it  down  in  two 
ounces  of  spirit  of  wine,  and  add  a pint  of  water. 

This  is  strong  enough  to  kill  the  vermin,  but  cannot  possibly  injure 
the  beast.  An  ointment,  however,  is  best,  for  it  can  be  more  tho- 
roughly rubbed  among  the  hair,  and  into  every  lurking-place  which 
the  vermin  may  occupy.  A portion  of  the  liquid  is  often  lost  in  the 
act  of  applying  it.  The  ointment  or  the  lotion  should  be  used  daily, 
and  three  or  four  dressings  will  generally  remove  the  nuisance. 

Scotch  snuff  has  been  dusted  on  the  beast  with  partial  good  effect, 
the  animalculae  have  been  thinned,  but  not  extirpated.  The  snuff 
cannot  possibly  reach  half  of  them. 

While  the  lice  are  attacked,  the  condition  of  the  animal  should, 
if  possible,  be  improved.  Poverty  and  bad  condition  are  sad  encou 
ragers  of  these  pests.  The  alterative  drink  just  recommended  maj 
be  advantageously  combined  with  tonics. 

[The  Boston  Cultivator  says Many  of  our  patrons  inform  us  that  their  own 
experience  confirms  our  doctrine,  as  to  the  facility  of  destroying  lice  on  cattle  bj 
means  of  sand  or  any  fine  dust  sifted  Mito  their  hair.  Mr.  Hardy,  of  Waltham 
Massachusetts,  one  of  our  observing  and  successful  farmers,  says  cattle  that  lie  in 


VERMIN 


119 


the  dirt  will  never  be  ious>.  ’ Mr  C.  Bullure,  of  Farunuguam,  who  keeps  the  best 
of  cattle,  says  that  “dirt  or  any  fine  powder  sifted  into  the  hair,  will  destroy  ver 
min.” 

Instinct  teaches  partridges  and  other  game  to  wallow  in  dusty  places  to  keep  off 
vermin;  and  for  the  same  purpose,  every  poultry  yard  should  be  provided  with  heaps 
of  fine  dust  and  ashes.  — S. J 

RECIPE  (No.  58). 

Alterative  Tonic  Powders.— Take  flower  of  sulphur,  four  ounces ; black  sulphuret 
of  antimony,  one  ounce;  iEthiop’s  mineral,  half  an  ounce;  nitre,  two  ounces;  pow- 
dered gentian.  two  ounces;  powdered  ginger,  one  ounce.  Mix,  and  divide  into  six 
powders,  and  give  one  daily. 

Warbles  may  here  be  not  improperly  considered.  The  breeze  or 
gad-fly,  or  ox-fly,  appears  about  the  end  of  summer,  and  is  a sad  an- 
noyance to  the  ox.  At  the  very  hum  of  the  insect  the  cattle  will 
gallop  distractedly  over  the  field,  and  sometimes  do  themselves  se- 
rious injury.  When  the  fly  has  the  opportunity  of  alighting  on  the 
beast,  he  chooses  the  back  or  the  loins,  and  piercing  the  skin,  deposits 
an  egg  under  it.  Some  venom  is  also  distilled  into  the  wound,  for  a 
tumour  is  shortly  afterwards  formed,  varying  from  the  size  of  an 
hazel-nut  to  that  of  an  egg.  It  is  a kind  of  abscess,  for  it  speedily 
bursts,  and  leaves  a little  hole  on  the  top  of  it  for  the  grub,  which  is 
now  hatched,  to  breathe,  and  where  he  lives  on  the  fatty  matter  that 
he  finds  in  this  curious  abode. 

These  warbles  are  often  a sad  nuisance  to  the  animal.  He  licks 
them  when  he  can  get  at  them,  and  rubs  himself  violently  on  any- 
thing within  his  reach. 

Country  people  sometimes  get  rid  of  them  by  compressing  them 
between  the  finger  and  thumb,  and  forcing  the  maggot  out.  Others, 
with  more  certain  effect,  either  pull  off*  the  scab  around  the  mouth 
of  the  tumour,  or  open  it  with  a lancet  or  penknife,  and  then  pour  in 
a few  drops  of  spirit  of  turpentine,  or  introduce  a heated  needle. 

The  farmer  is  scarcely  aware  how  much  injury  this  fly  does  to  the 
hide ; for,  although  the  holes  may  apparently  close  up,  that  part  will 
always  be  weak. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

TO  PRODUCE  BULLING  IN  THE  COW,  AND  TREATMENT  OF  BULL-BURNT 

It  sometimes  happens  that  the  cow  will  not  stand  to  the  bull  at  the 
time  that  the  farmer  wished,  so  that  either  the  calf  is  dropped  a month 
or  two  after  the  most  convenient  and  profitable  time,  or  the  most 
valuable  season  for  making  butter  and  cheese  is  lost.  Some  cows 
are  thus  backward  because  they  have  been  previously  starved ; a 
week  or  fortnight’s  better  keeping  will  usually  effect  the  desired 
purpose.  Indeed,  if  the  animal  has  been  well  kept,  and  is  in  good 


120 


BULLING  IN  THE  COW,  & C . 

health,  there  will  be  little  trouble  from  her  unwillingness  to  associate 
with  the  bull,  but  occasionally  some  of  a contrary  nature. 

Many  recipes  have  been  given  by  various  authors  to  hasten  the 
period  of  the  cow  being  in  season.  A very  common  thing  with  the 
farmer  is  to  give  the  cow  that  is  wanted  to  take  the  bull  a quart  of 
milk  immediately  after  it  has  been  drawn  from  a cow  that  is  in  sea- 
son. Two  or  three  good  cordial  drinks,  such  as  that  recommended  in 
Recipe  31,  (p.  79),  will  be  more  serviceable.  A few  malt  mashes, 
oats,  carrots,  &c.,  may  likewise  be  given.  I would  earnestly  advise 
the  farmer  never  to  have  recourse  to  cantharides.  It  is  a dangerously 
stimulating  medicine:  some  cows  have  had  suppression  of  urine 
quickly  following  the  exhibition  of  it,  and  others  have  died  from  in- 
flammation of  the  sexual  parts. 

On  the  other  hand,  cows  should  not  be  too  fat  at  this  time,  because 
they  will  frequently  then  not  stand  the  bulling.  A fat  cow  should 
have  a dose  or  two  of  physic  and  be  bled ; a lean  cow  requires  better 
keeping. 

The  sheath  and  penis  of  the  bull  occasionally  becomes  swollen  and 
tender,  and  full  of  little  ulcers,  with  fetid  ichorous  discharge.  The 
animal  can  seldom  be  managed  unless  he  is  thrown,  when  the  yard 
should  be  drawn  out,  and  all  the  sore  places  bathed  with  the  follow- 
ing lotion : — 

RECIPE  (No.  59). 

Lotion  for  Bull- burnt.— Take  Goulard’s  extract,  one  ounce;  spirit  of  wine,  two 
ounces;  wsrtcr,  half  a pint.  Mix. 

A few  applications  of  this  will  give  speedy  relief,  and  heal  the 
sores. 

The  shape  of  the  cow  will  sometimes  inflame  and  swell,  accom- 
panied with  considerable  pain  at  the  time  of  staling,  and  also  a thin 
ichorous  discharge.  The  part  should  be  washed  with  this  lotion,  era 
little  of  it  ejected  up  the  shape  with  a syringe. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

THE  COW-POX. 

This  disease  used  to  be  generally  confounded  with  sore  teats,  until 
the  immortal  Jenner  discovered  its  preservative  power  against  small 
pox.  Other  scientific  men  have  since  proved  that  it  is  identical  with 
small-pox, — that  it  is,  in  fact,  the  small-pox  of  the  cow. 

It  appears  under  the  form  of  pustules  or  vesicles  on  the  teats,  which 
are  easily  broken  in  milking,  and  which,  left  alone,  break  of  them- 
selves, and  discharge  a thin,  unhealthy  fluid.  The  pustules  are  sur- 
rounded by  a broad  circle  of  inflammation,  and  if  neglected,  or  roughly 
handled,  occasionally  run  into  ulcers,  very  foul,  and  difficult  to  heal 


CO W -FOX. 


121 


At  the  time  of,  or  a little  before,  the  appearance  of  the  pustules, 
the  animal  droops,  refuses  to  feed,  ceases  to  ruminate,  and  labours 
under  considerable  fever.  The  eyes  are  heavy  and  dull ; the  cow 
moans  and  wanders  about  by  herself,  and  her  milk  materially  lessens, 
and  at  length  is  almost  suspended. 

It  will  rarely  be  prudent  to  bleed,  but  the  bowels  should  be  fairly 
opened,  and  the  fever  drink,  (No.  1,  p.  4G),  given  once  or  twice  in 
the  day,  according  to  the  apparent  degree  of  fever.  The  teats  should 
be  frequently  washed  with  warm  water,  and  the  following  lotion  ap 
plied  morning  and  night : — 

RECIPE  (No.  60). 

Lotion  for  Cow-pox.— Take  sal  ammoniac,  a quarter  of  an  ounce;  white  wine 
vinegar,  half  a pint ; camphorated  spirit  of  wine,  two  ounces;  Goulard’s  extract,  an 
ounce.  Mix,  and  keep  them  in  a bottle  for  use. 

If  the  ulcers  become  very  foul,  and  difficult  to  heal,  they  must  be 
treated  in  the  way  recommended  for  garget. 

It  is  well  known  that  these  eruptions  give  a similar  disease  to  the 
milker.  Pustules  appear  about  the  joints  of  the  hand,  and  the  ends 
of  the  fingers;  and  there  is  sometimes  considerable  fever,  pain  in  the 
head  and  limbs  and  loins,  shivering,  vomiting,  and  a quickened  pulse. 
The  pustules  burst  in  three  or  four  days,  and  sometimes  become  trou- 
blesome sores  difficult  to  heal ; and  if  unfortunately  the  patient  should 
have  rubbed  his  cheek  or  his  lips  with  the  diseased  hand,  the  ulcers 
will  appear  there  also. 

It  was  the  observation  that  persons  who  had  had  this  disease  of  the 
cow  were  usually  exempt  from  small-pox,  which  led  to  the  most  im- 
portant discovery  in  medicine  that  has  been  made  in  modern  times. 

There  is  another  eruption  on  the  teat  of  the  cow  that  bears  no  in- 
considerable resemblance  to  the  true  cow-pox,  and  that  has  been 
confounded  with  it.  The  pustules  are  smaller : they  are  not  so  round, 
nor  so  deep ; nor  have  they  the  blue  colour  of  the  others,  and  the} 
contain  pus  or  matter  from  the  very  first.  They  will  readily  yield  tc 
the  ointment  for  sore  teats  recommended  in  Recipe  29  (p.  75). 

Even  without  any  application  to  them,  the  scabs  usually  peel  off  ik 
a few  days,  and  the  skin  underneath  is  quite  sound.  If,  however, 
these  are  carelessly  rubbed  off  in  the  act  of  milking,  troublesome 
ulcers  are  apt  to  ensue. 

It  is  of  much  importance  to  the  farmer  to  be  able  to  distinguish 
between  these  two  eruptions.  The  first  is  contagious,  and  may  be 
communicated  to  the  milk-maid,  and,  by  her,  to  other  cows.  It  is 
the  true  cow-pox.  The  second  is  not  contagious,  and  is  readuv  got 

rid  of. 


11 


,22 


CLUE-BOUND FA  II  DEL - BOUND* 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

CLUE-BOUND.  — FARDEL-BOUND. 

These  are  different  terms  for  costiveness,  to  which  cattle  are  often 
subject,  and  especially  in  the  beginning  of  almost  all  inflammatory 
complaints.  The  dung  gets  more  tenacious  and  harder,  and  is  forced 
away  in  very  small  quantities.  There  is  considerable  dryness  of  the 
muzzle,  heat  of  the  mouth,  quickness  of  the  pulse,  anxiety  of  the 
countenance,  and  every  indication  of  fever.  Sometimes  the  disease  is 
evidently  in  the  bowels  principally  or  entirely ; at  other  times  it  is 
only  the  symptom  or  accompaniment  of  other  diseases.  It  always 
requires  immediate  attention,  and  may  be  considered  as  highly  dan- 
gerous. Bleeding  will  be  very  useful,  not  only  as  lowering  the  fever, 
but  disposing  the  purgative  medicine  to  act  more  speedily.  After 
bleeding,  the  bowels  should  be  attacked  in  good  earnest.  The  physic 
drinks  already  recommended  should  be  given, — at  first,  the  mild  one 
(No.  2,  p.  47).  If  that,  repeated  after  an  interval  of  six  hours,  is  not 
successful,  the  stronger  dose  (No.  47,  p.  Ill)  should  be  tried:  and 
if  that  also  fails,  a pound  of  common  salt  should  be  administered,  and 
repeated  four  hours  afterwards.  This  will  seldom  deceive,  in  extreme 
cases,  although,  from  its  irritating  the  bowels  a little  too  much,  it  is 
not  a purgative  to  be  recommended  in  ordinary  cases. 

The  action  of  the  purgatives  will  be  hastened,  and  generally  secured, 
by  the  use  of  injections  ; and  here  also  Read’s  patent  pump  will  be 
advantageously  employed.  Half  a pailful  of  warm  water,  in  whicn 
Epsom  salt  or  common  salt  has  been  dissolved,  may  be  thrown  ur 
every  two  or  three  hours. 

After  the  obstruction  has  been  once  overcome,  the  continued  exhi- 
bition of  mild  purgatives  will  be  prudent,  for  the  costiveness  is  too 
apt  to  return.  The  Sulphur  Purging  Drink  (No.  7,  p.  52)  will  be  the 
oest  medicine  for  this  purpose.  The  food  should  be  mashes  princi- 
pally, or  young  succulent  grass. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

RABIES.  — HYDROPHOBIA. 

This  dreadful  disease  is  produced  by  the  bite  of  a rabid  or  mad 
dog.  The  time  that  may  elapse  between  the  bite  and  the  appearance 
of  the  malady  varies  from  three  weeks  to  three  or  four  months. 


RABIES HYDROPHOBIA. 


123 


The  symptoms  of  its  approach  are  dulness ; loss  of  appetite ; the 
eyes  are  anxious,  protruding,  and  red ; the  animal  frequently  and 
pitifully  lows,  and  is  continually  voiding  its  dung  or  its  urine.  Saliva 
drivels  plentifully  from  the  mouth,  but  after  a day  or  two  the  discharge 
dries  up,  and  is  succeeded  by  thirst  almost  insatiable:  there  is  no 
hydrophobia , or  dread  of  water , at  any  time . Presently  weakness*  of 
the  loins  and  staggering  appear : these  are  succeeded  by  palsy  of  the 
hind  limbs,  and  the  animal  lingers  six  or  seven  days,  and  dies. 

In  some  cases  the  beast  is  dreadfully  ferocious : he  runs  furiously 
at  every  object,  stands  across  the  path  bellowing  and  tearing  up  the 
ground,  and  violently  attacks  and  gores  his  companions. 

There  is  no  cure ; the  most  prudent  thing  is  to  destroy  the  animal 
as  soon  as  the  disease  is  sufficiently  plain.  Care  should  be  taken 
that  the  saliva  of  the  rabid  ox  is  not  received  on  a wound  or  abraded 
part,  for  it  has  produced  the  disease  in  other  animals.  Any  wound 
on  which  it  has  fallen  should  immediately  have  the  lunar  caustic 
applied  to  it. 

When  a mad  dog  has  been  known  to  bite  an  ox,  or  a cow,  there  is 
a possibility  of  their  escape,  for  the  hide  is  thick,  and  the  hair  is  thick 
too,  and  the  skin  may  not  be  penetrated,  or  the  tooth  may  have  been 
cleaned  in  passing  through  the  hair.  They  should  be  most  carefully 
examined,  and  especially  about  the  part  on  which  they  were  seized 
by  the  dog,  and  if  the  minutest  scratch  can  be  found,  the  hair  must 
be  cut  off  round  it,  and  the  lunar  caustic  applied.  That  being  done 
effectually,  and  every  bite  being  discovered  and  operated  on,  the 
animal  is  safe;  but  it  is  possible,  or  rather  it  is  too  probable,  that 
every  bite  will  not  be  discovered,  considering  how  thickly  the  skin 
is  covered  by  hair.  It  is,  therefore,  the  safest  course,  if  the  beast  is 
in  tolerable  condition,  to  sell  it  at  once  to  the  butcher,  for  it  will  not 
be  fit  for  the  shambles  after  rabies  has  once  appeared.  Medicine 
would  be  perfectly  thrown  away  in  these  cases.  The  stories  which 
are  prevalent  in  every  village,  of  the  wonderful  power  of  certain 
drinks,  are  all  founded  either  on  ignorance  or  fraud.  There  is  no 
jure ; and  no  prevention  but  the  destruction  of  the  part. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

THE  DISEASES  INCIDENT  TO  YOUNG  CALVES. 

When  the  calf  is  dropped,  proper  care  should  be  taken  of  the  cow 
by  providing  her  with  a comfortable  place  to  lie  down : she  should 
also  be  suffered  freely  to  lick  her  calf,  for  this  will  not  only  make  her 
fond  of  it,  but  the  young  animal  will  be  thoroughly  cleansed,  and 
raised  much  sooner  than  it  otherwise  would  ; and  the  mother,  in  eat. 

9 


124 


DISEASES  OF  YOUNG  CALVES. 


‘ng  the  cleansing,  will  obtain  that  medicine  which  nature  designed 
for  her. 

It  is  usual  to  take  away  a quart  of  the  first  milk,  called  the  beast 
ings , before  the  calf  is  allowed  to  suck.  After  this  the  young  animal 
may  be  allowed  access  to  the  cow,  but  regulated  by  the  plan  of  suck- 
ling or  bringing  up  on  which  the  grazier  may  determine.  The  calf 
should  remain  with  the  mother  during  a few  days  at  least,  or  until 
the  milk  is  proper  for  the  purposes  of  the  dairy 

The  mother’s  first  milk  is  of  an  aperient  quality,  and  sufficiently  so 
to  cleanse  the  bowels  of  the  calf  from  the  black  sticky  substance 
which  they  contain  when  first  dropped.  If  this  should  not  be  effected, 
a little  opening  medicine  will  be  necessary. 

RECIPE  (No.  61). 

Aperient  Drink  for  Calves.— Take  epsom  salts,  from  one  to  two  ounces,  accordin. 
to  the  size  and  age  of  the  calf,  and  dissolve  in  half  a pint  of  gruel ; then  add  ginge. 
a scruple  ; essence  of  peppermint,  three  drops. 

The  Epsom  salts  are  as  efficacious  as  any  kind  of  oil  for  purging 
young  cattle,  as  well  as  far  less  expensive  than  most  oils.  Custom, 
however,  has  sanctioned  the  almost  general  use  of  castor  oil  in  these 
cases,  and  there  is  no  objection  to  it. 

After  the  first  or  second  day  it  will  be  prudent  to  tie  the  calf  in  a 
corner  of  the  hovel,  that  it  may  not  be  always  sucking  the  mother, 
for  it  might  overgorge  itself  with  milk,  which  would  coagulate  in  the 
fourth  stomach,  and  choke  it  up,  and  produce  disease,  and  even  death. 
If  it  is  evident  that  the  cow  would  yield  more  milk  than  the  calf 
should  have,  it  is  the  custom,  and  very  properly,  to  take  away  a por- 
tion of  it  from  her  two  or  three  times  in  the  day,  before  the  young 
one  is  unfastened. 

The  time  that  the  calf,  after  this,  remains  with  the  mother  is  chiefly 
regulated  by  the  system  which  the  breeder  usually  pursues,  but  refer- 
ence should  always  be  had  to  the  state  of  the  cow’s  udder.  If  it  is 
perfectly  free  from  knobs,  or  kernels,  or  hardness,  the  calf  may  be 
removed  at  a comparatively  early  period  ; but  if  any  induration  of  the 
teats  appears,  the  young  animal  should  be  permitted  to  suck  a while 
longer.  The  frequent  sucking  will  prevent  the  milk  from  curdling  in 
the  udder;  and  also  the  friction  and  shaking  of  the  bag,  by  the  jolting 
of  the  calf’s  head  in  the  act  of  sucking,  will  contribute  not  a little  to 
the  dispersion  of  the  tumours.  I have  already  spoken  of  garget,  and 
shown  that  a very  prevalent  cause  of  it  is  the  weaning  of  the  calf  too 
soon. 

Few  things  are  more  injurious  than  the  exposure  of  the  young  calf 
to  wet  and  cold.  It  lays  a foundation  for  rheumatism  and  hoose, 
which  no  medical  treatment  can  afterwards  remove. 

For  every  information  with  regard  to  the  rearing  ot  calves  from  the 
pail,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  newest  edition  of  The  Complete 
Grazier or  the  treatise  on  44  Cattle,”  published  by  th  ■*  Useful  Know 
ledge  Society,  both  of  which  should  find  a place  i a the  library  of 
every  agriculturist. 


DISEASES  OF  YOUNG  CALVES. 


125 


Bleeding  from  the  navel  string  is  not  an  anrimnon  complaint 
.■unong  calves,  and  it  is  a very  troublesome  one.  j n.  nrst  thing  to  be 
done  is  to  pass  another  ligature  round  the  string  nearer  to  the  body ; 
for  if  the  bleeding  is  not  stopped  the  life  of  the  young  animal  will 
sometimes  be  endangered.  It  may  happen,  however,  that  the  first 
ligature  may  have  been  nearer  to  the  belly  than  it  ought  to  have  been, 
so  near,  indeed,  that  another  cannot  be  passed  within  it.  A pledget 
of  lint  that  has  been  dipped  in  a decoction  of  galls  (half-a-dozen  galls 
bruised,  and  boiled  in  half-a-pint  of  water),  should  be  placed  over  the 
part,  and  confined  with  a proper  bandage.  This  will  be  far  preferable 
to  the  blue  vitriol,  and  oil  of  vitriol,  which  some  cow-leeches  are  so 
fond  of  applying.  It  will  stop  the  blood,  but  not  eat  into  and  destroy 
Vie  part. 

From  the  application  of  the  caustic,  or  even  of  the  second  ligature, 
a great  deal  of  swelling  will  sometimes  take  place.  This  should  be 
well  fomented  until  inflammation  is  pretty  nearly  subdued.  The 
after-treatment  will  depend  on  circumstances.  If  there  is  a solid 
tumour,  the  fomentation,  or  a poultice,  must  be  continued  until  the 
swelling  breaks,  or  points  so  decidedly  that  it  may  be  opened  with  a 
lancet.  Poultices  must  then  be  applied  until  the  matter  has  fairly 
run  out,  after  which  a little  Friar’s  Balsam  will  usually  complete  the 
cure. 

In  consequence  of  the  bleeding  and  discharge  of  matter,  the  calf 
will  sometimes  be  exceedingly  reduced ; some  tonic  medicine  will 
then  be  necessary.  The  Recipe  No.  13  (p.  54),  given  in  half-doses, 
will  be  serviceable,  and  at  the  same  time  the  calf  should  be  forced 
with  good  oatmeal  or  peameal  gruel. 

DIARRHOEA. 

One  of  the  most  frequent  and  fatal  diseases  to  which  young  calves 
are  subject  is  diarrhoea,  or  violent  purging.  It  occurs  most  frequently 
when  the  young  animal  is  from  a fortnight  to  six  weeks  old,  and  is 
m the  majority  of  cases  the  consequence  of  neglect.  The  calf  has 
been  too  early  exposed  to  cold  and  wet,  or  has  been  half  starved,  and 
then  one  full  and  hearty  meal  often  disarranges  the  whole  alimentary 
canal.  It  is  bad  policy  to  stint  the  calf  too  much  in  its  quantity  of 
milk.  The  loss  of  two  or  three  calves  in  the  course  of  a year  will 
more  than  swallow  up  the  supposed  saving  resulting  from  a system 
of  starvation. 

At  the  time  of  weaning,  or  when  the  food  is  changed  from  milk  to 
gruel  or  porridge,  diarrhoea  and  dysentery  are  very  apt  to  occur,  and 
are  subdued  with  great  difficulty.  The  w7eaning  and  change  of  food 
should  be  effected  slowly,  and  with  a great  deal  of  caution.  The 
new  milk  should  be  mixed  with  the  skim  milk  or  gruel  which  is 
afterwards  to  be  substituted,  and  the  quantity  of  the  one  gradually 
diminished,  while  the  other  is  as  cautiously  increased. 

The  symptoms  of  diarrhoea  in  calves  are,  continual  purging;  the 
matter  discharged  is  covered  with  more  than  its  natural  quantity  of 
11* 


126 


DISEASES  OF  YOUNG  CALVES. 


mucus;  sometimes  it  is  bloody,  and  often  fetid;  the  animal  loathes 
its  food,  staggers  as  it  walks,  and  becomes  rapidly  thin.  Towards 
the  last  stage  of  the  disease  the  dung  is  more  and  more  fetid  and 
bloody,  a greater  portion  of  mucus  mixes  with  it,  and  at  length  the 
discharge  seems  to  be  composed  of  mucus  and  blood,  with  scarcely 
any  mixture  of  natural  fecal  matter.  When  this  occurs  there  is  little 
or  no  hope  of  cure. 

The  principal  thing  is  to  treat  these  diseases  in  time,  before  the 
mucous  coat  of  the  intestines  becomes  so  inflamed  that  a bloody  dis 
charge  ensues  which  soon  wears  the  animal  down. 

Much  acidity  in  the  stomach  and  bowels  attends  all  these  com- 
plaints ; therefore,  it  is  necessary  to  get  rid  of  it,  first  of  all,  by  the 
administration  of  a mild  purgative,  and  afterwards  by  the  exhibition 
of  chalk,  or  some  other  medicine  with  which  the  acid  will  really 
combine.  Two  ounces  of  castor  oil,  or  four  of  Epsom  salts,  may  be 
given. 

Opium  in  some  form  or  other  must  always  be  united  with  the 
chalk.  It  is  of  no  use  to  get  rid  of  one  complaint  when  others  are 
lurking  and  ready  to  appear.  It  will  not  be  sufficient  to  neutralize 
the  acidity  of  the  stomach ; the  mouths  of  the  vessels  that  are  pour- 
ing out  all  this  mucus  and  blood  must  be  stopped;  and  we  have  not 
a more  powerful  or  useful  medicine  than  this  in  our  whole  catalogue 
of  drugs.  It  acts  by  removing  the  irritation  about  the  orifices  of  the 
exhalent  vessels,  and  when  this  is  effected  they  will  cease  to  pour 
out  so  much  fluid.  Other  astringents  may  be  added,  and  a carmina- 
tive mingled  with  the  whole  to  recall  the  appetite,  and  rouse  the 
bowels  to  healthy  action.  The  following  medicine  will  present  the 
best  combination  of  all  these  things  : — 

RECIPE  (No.  62). 

Take  prepared  chalk,  two  drachms;  powdered  opium,  ten  grains;  powdered  cate- 
chu, half  a drachm  ; ginger,  half  a drachm  ; essence  of  peppermint,  five  drops.  Mix, 
and  give  twice  every  day  in  half  a pint  of  gruel. 

This  will  be  the  proper  dose  for  a calf  from  a fortnight  to  two 
months  old.  If  the  animal  is  older  the  dose  may  be  increased  one- 
half.  The  common  Dalby’s  Carminative  is  not  a bad  medicine, 
although  a dear  one,  and  may  be  given  in  doses  of  half  a bottle  at  a 
time,  when  it  happens  to  be  at  hand,  and  the  case  is  urgent,  and  the 
drugs  which  compose  Recipe  No.  62  cannot  be  immediately  pro- 
cured. 

When  these  preparations  have  been  given  some  time,  and  have 
failed  to  stop  the  purging,  I have  known  the  following  given  with 
very  good  effect : — 

RECIPE  (No.  63). 

Take  Dover’s  powdei , two  scruples  ; starch,  or  arrow-root,  in  powder,  one  ounce, 
compound  cinnamon  powder,  one  drachm;  powdered  kino,  half  a drachm  Boil  Ihe 
-starch  or  arrow-root  in  a pint  of  water  until  it  becomes  well  thickened  And  then 
gradually  stir  in  the  other  ingredients. 

This  may  be  given  morning  and  night. 


COSTI  V ENES8. 


127 


When  constant  and  violent  straining  accompanies  the  expulsion 
of  the  dung,  an  injection  of  a pint  of  thick  gruel,  with  which  half  a 
drachm  of  powdered  opium  has  been  mixed,  will  be  very  useful. 

Diarrhoea  will  often  in  the  early  stage  be  accompanied  not  only  by 
inflammation  of  the  bowels,  but  much  general  fever.  This  will  be 
known  by  much  panting,  heat  of  the  mouth,  and  uneasiness,  the 
animal  lying  down  and  getting  up  again,  rolling,  or  kicking  at  its 
belly.  It  will  then  be  prudent  to  bleed.  A pint  will  be  the  proper 
quantity  to  be  taken  from  a calf  under  a month ; after  that  an  addi- 
tional ounce  may  be  taken  for  every  month.  When,  however,  the 
diarrhoea  has  been  long  established,  and  the  calf  is  getting  weak  and 
rapidly  losing  flesh,  it  would  be  madness  to  bleed ; the  strength  of 
the  animal  would  be  more  speedily  exhausted,  and  its  death  hastened. 
Chalk,  or  starch,  astringents,  and  carminatives  will  then  afford  the 
only  rational  hope  of  success.  After  the  cure  has  been  completed, 
much  care  should  be  taken  respecting  the  diet  of  the  animal ; and  it 
will  sometimes  be  useful  to  give  him  a lump  of  chalk  and  another 
of  salt  in  his  feeding  place,  to  lick  them  when  he  likes. 

[The  following  recipe  was  originally  published  in  the  New  England  Fa  mer,  sanc- 
tioned with  the  name  of  Lovett  Peters,  of  Westborough,  Massachusetts,  who  pro- 
nounces it  an  infallible  cure  for  diarrhoea,  or  scouring  in  calves:— “I  call  it,”  says 
he,  “ infallible,  because  in  thirty  years’  use  of  it  I have  never  known  it  to  fail  in 
effecting  a cure,  by  once  giving  it,  except  in  one  instance,  and  then  a second  dose 
proved  effectual.  Put  into  a suitable  bottle  about  half  a pint  of  good  cider,  (not 
sweet  nor  bottled  cider).  Then  open  a vein  in  the  neck  of  the  calf,  and  let  into  the 
bottle  about  the  same  quantity  of  blood.  Shake  it  well  together  quickly,  and  before 
it  has  time  to  coagulate,  put  it  down  the  calf’s  throat,  which  is  easily  done  with  the 
bottle.  — S.] 

COSTIVENESS. 

This  occasionally  attacks  young  calves  a few  days  after  they  are 
born.  It  is  then  caused  by  coagulation  of  milk  in  the  fourth  stomach, 
which  is  completely  distended  by  the  solid  curd,  and  the  passage 
through  it  obstructed.  There  is  not  often  any  remedy  for  this.  The 
most  likely  method  to  succeed  is  to  pour  in  plenty  of  warm  water  in 
which  Epsom  salts  have  been  dissolved,  by  means  of  the  stomach- 
pump  so  often  recommended.  The  first  dose  may  consist  of  two 
ounces  of  the  salts  dissolved  in  two  or  three  quarts  of  water;  after 
which  ounce-doses  may  be  given  every  six  hours,  likewise  in  the 
same  quantity  of  water,  until  the  bowels  are  opened. 

The  costiveness  of  calves  is  generally  produced  by  bad  manage- 
ment. Either  the  calf  is  suffered  to  suck  too  plentifully,  or  put  to  a 
cow  whose  milk  is  too  old,  or  fed  with  new  milk  from  the  dairy  pro- 
miscuously. All  these  things  are  injurious,  and  thousands  of  young 
animals  have  been  destroyed  by  them. 

When  costiveness  occurs  in  calves  of  two  or  three  months  old,  it 
is  usually  when  they  have  been  too  suddenly  changed  from  fluid  food, 
as  gruel  or  porridge,  to  that  of  a dryer  and  more  stimulating  kird, 


*28 


DISEASES  OF  YOUNG  CALVES. 


and  consisting  principally  of  hay.  This  is  a dangerous  complaint; 
for  there  is  not  only  obstruction  usually  in  the  manyplies , or  third 
stomach,  which  is  employed  in  rubbing  down  the  hard  fibrous  food, 
and  now  becomes  overloaded  and  clogged,  but  the  paunch  itself  is 
generally  filled  with  undigested  food,  and  rumination  has  ceased. 

Here  again  everything  depends  on  diluting  the  hardened  mass,  and 
opening  the  bowels.  The  first  dose  of  medicine  should  consist  of  a 
quarter  of  a pound  of  Epsom  salts,  dissolved  in  a gallon  of  warm 
water.  It  will  not  be  forgotten  that  by  introducing  the  pipe  a little 
way,  or  far  down  the  gullet,  the  medicine  may  be  thrown  at  once  into 
the  third  and  fourth  stomachs,  or  into  the  first.  If  it  is  introduced 
only  a little  way,  and  the  pump  worked  gently,  the  fluid  will  pass 
on  through  the  canal  at  the  base  of  the  gullet,  which  was  described 
in  the  early  part  of  the  work,  and  enter  the  third  stomach.  Flowing 
through  this  in  considerable  quantities,  it  will  perhaps  dissolve,  and 
wash  out  the  hardened  mass  contained  between  the  leaves  of  the 
manyplies,  while  the  salts  will  open  the  bowels,  and  by  emptying 
them  solicit  the  food  forward  from  the  gorged  stomachs. 

If,  after  the  bowels  have  been  well  opened,  rumination  should  not 
return,  it  will  be  prudent  to  have  recourse  again  to  the  stomach- 
pump,  the  tube  of  which  should  now  be  pushed  farther  down  the 
gullet,  until  it  enters  the  paunch.  . Plenty  of  warm  water  being  now 
pumped  in,  and  with  some  force,  it  will  stir  up  the  contents  of  th<? 
pauncn,  and  cause  them  to  be  disgorged  into  the  canal  leading  to  the 
true  stomach ; or  vomiting  will  be  excited,  and  the  greater  part  of  it 
thus  brought  away.  The  stomach  will  probably  act  upon  the  little 
that  remains,  rumination  will  again  be  established,  and  the  animal 
will  speedily  recover. 

There  are  few  things  so  dangerous  to  young  cattle  as  being  thus 
sapped  or  costive.  It  is  the  foundation  of  fever,  and  of  many  a 
serious  complaint.  As  soon  as  the  dung  is  observed  to  be  hard,  a 
mild  dose  of  physic  should  be  given  to  every  calf.  A little  attention 
to  this  would  keep  the  breeding  stock  in  good  order ; and  their  pre- 
servation, and  health,  and  rapid  thriving  would  abundantly  repay  the 
little  additional  tronole  and  expense.  Farmers  in  general,  however, 
are  shamefully  careless  here ; and  no  notice  is  taken  of  half  the  dis- 
eases under  which  their  stock  of  every  kind  plainly  and  evidently 
labour,  until  they  are  past  all  cure.  It  is  also  matter  of  general  ob* 
servation,  that  a calf  that  has  a considerable  tendency  to  costiveness 
is  slow  in  getting  fat  and  preparing  for  the  market. 

All  cattle  are  subject  to  occasional  costiveness,  and  which  should 
be  removed  as  early  as  in  the  calf,  as  being  the  frequent  root  of  much 
evil.  It  is  either  one  of  the  symptoms  of  the  beast  labouring  under 
inflammatory  fever,  or  it  lays  the  foundation  for  inflammatory  fever. 
A purge  of  Epsom  salts,  or  even  of  common  salt,  if  the  other  should 
not  be  at  hand,  will  not  cost  much,  and  would  save  the  life  of  many 
a beast:  let  not  the  farmer,  however,  follow  up  the  farrier’s  practice 
of  giving  a cordial  drink  two  or  three  days  after  the  physic,  under 


THE  HOOSE  IN  CALVES. 


129 


tlie  notion  of  removing  flatulence,  and  promoting  digestion,  and  invi 
gorating  the  system.  The  fever,  of  which  this  costiveness  is  eithei 
the  forerunner  or  the  cause,  would  only  be  hastened  and  aggravated 
by  this  absurd  system  of  stimulation. 

THE  HOOSE  IN  CALVES. 

This  disease  in  the  adult  animal  has  already  been  considered  : in 
the  calf  it  assumes  different  and  more  aggravated  symptoms,  and  is 
more  speedily  connected  with  consumption  and  death.  The  moment 
a calf  is  observed  to  cough  violently,  he  should  be  removed  from  the 
pasture,  and  put  under  tolerably  warm  shelter  and  taken  care  of.  A 
bleeding  and  a dose  of  physic,  and  a fever  powder,  will  then  usually 
restore  the  animal  to  perfect  health. 

At  times  the  boose  is  epidemic  among  cattle,  and  hundreds  of  them 
die.  Proper  treatment  at  first  will,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  remedy 
the  evil;  but  should  the  animal  get  rapidly  worse,  and  his  cough  be 
peculiarly  violent  and  distressing,  care  should  be  taken  to  examine 
the  first  that  happens  to  die,  on  the  farmer’s  own  estate,  or  that  of 
his  neighbour,  and  if  the  windpipe  and  the  air-tuhes  below  should  be 
found  filled  with  the  worms  which  have  already  been  described,  re- 
course should  be  had  to  the  spirit  of  turpentine,  which  will  often 
succeed  in  destroying  them.  The  principle  on  which  the  turpentine 
acts  has  been  already  explained.  The  following  will  be  found  a good 
formula  for  its  administration  to  calves  from  six  to  twelve  months 
old : — 

RECIPE  (No.  64). 

Take  oil  of  turpentine,  one  ounce;  linseed  oil,  three  or  four  ounces;  ginger,  pow- 
dered, one  drachm.  Mix.  To  be  repeated  at  the  interval  of  a week,  as  often  as  may 
be  required. 

A cure  has  also  been  obtained  by  the  exhibition  of  half  a pint  of 
lime-water  every  morning  and  a table-spoonful  of  salt  the  same  after- 
noon. The  origin  of  these  worms  has  not  yet  been  satisfactorily 
developed  ; but  it  is  supposed  that  the  eggs  are  taken  with  the  watei 
absorbed  by  the  blood-vessels,  and  thus  enter  the  windpipe,  where 
they  are  hatched  : hut  one  thing  is  certain,  that  in  nine  cases  out  of 
ten  the  farmer  may  attribute  all  the  losses  he  sustains  to  neglect  of 
the  calf,  or  premature  exposure  of  him  to  cold  and  wet. 

CANKER  IN  THE  MOUTH- 

The  teeth  of  the  young  calf  follow  each  other  in  rapid  succession 
and,  as  is  the  case  with  the  human  infant,  the  cutting  of  the  teeth  is 
attended  by  soreness  of  the  mouth,  and  disinclination  to  eat.  Numer- 
ous pimples  also  appear  about  the  gums  and  membrane  of  the  mouth, 
and  these  often  run  together,  considerable  ulceration  follows,  and  the 
animal  pines  away  through  lack  of  nutriment.  The  gums  and  tongue 
are  sometimes  considerably  swollen,  and  no  small  degree  of  fever  is 
excited.  The  first  business  is  to  evacuate  the  bowels.  Epsom  salts 
will  here  also  constitute  the  preferable  medicine,  given  in  doses  of 
one  or  two  ounces,  and  repeated  daily  until  the  proper  effect  is  pro 


130 


POSTSCRIPT  TO 


duced.  As  a local  application,  equal  parts  of  tincture  of  myrrh  and 
water  may  be  advantageously  applied  to  the  mouth,  or  a solution  of 
common  alum  in  water  in  the  proportion  of  half  an  ounce  of  alum  to 
a pint  of  water.  Should  any  considerable  degree  of  fever  accompany 
the  soreness  of  the  mouth,  the  fever  drink  already  recommended  may 
be  given  in  half  doses,  with  a scruple  of  magnesia  added  to  each. 


POSTSCRIPT 

TO 

THE  DISEASES  OF  CATTLE. 

One  of  the  most  fatal  and  extraordinary  diseases  with  which  any  country  has  buen 
infected  is  that  which,  in  Ohio  and  other  western  States,  is  called  the  Tremblei. 
Professor  Drake,  of  the  Transylvania  University,  and  more  recently  Doctor  J.  J. 
Mcllhenny,  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  have  both  published  their  views  on  the  subject;  and 
if  they  have  not  succeeded  in  prescribing  any  effectual  remedy,  it  has  not  been  for 
want  of  diligence  of  research  and  an  obvious  benevolence  of  motive  which  do  them 
honour.  As  resulting  from  the  use  of  the  meat  and  milk  of  cattle  infected  with  the 
trembles,  is  believed  to  occur  one  of  the  most  terrible  diseases  to  which  the  human 
family  is  liable,  called  the  Milk  Sickness,  alias  Sick  Stomach,  “ there  is,  says  Dr. 
Mcllhenny,  “no  disorder  that  fills  the  minds  of  persons  residing  within  the  infected 
districts  with  more  horror,  with  more  dread,  with  more  foreboding  of  death,  than 
does  this  disease.”  He  considers  the  trembles  in  cattle  to  be  clearly  of  vegetable 
origin,  that  is  produced  by  animals  eating  the  vegetable,  and  through  them  commu 
nicated  to  the  person  or  animal  that  partakes  either  of  the  meat,  butter,  or  milk. 

Dr.  T.  B.  Johnston,  whose  residence  is  in  Southern  Indiana,  says  that  he  never 
knew  the  trembles  to  prevail  where  there  was  not  a free  growth  of  weeds.  “ I well 
know  that  it  is  circumscribed,  that  a small  section  will  produce  the  disease,  then  an 
exemption  for  some  distance,  when  it  will  again  recur.  So  of  some  farms;  a portion 
will  produce  it,  and  the  other  will  not.  In  fact,  there  is  not  a county  from  Floyd  to 
tne  mouth  of  the  Wabash,  and  as  far  north  as  White  River,  that  is  exempt  from 
milk  sickness;  and  it  often  occurs  in  both  Southern  Illinois  and  Kentucky.  I have 
never  heard  of  it  above  the  41st  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  it  seldom  reaches  that 
line.  As  to  the  cause  of  the  trembles,  Dr.  Mcllhenny,  who  has  devoted  much  and 
anxious  attention  to  the  subject,  says  that  he  differs  with  Professor  Drake  as  to  the 
true  cause—  Our  difference,  however,  consists  merely  in  a name,  in  distinguishing 
between  a different  species  of  plants  of  the  same  genus.  He  appears  to  be  pretty 
well  satisfied  that  the  Rhus  Toxicodendron  (Poison  Oak)  or  Rhus  Radicans  (Poison 
Vine)  is  the  plant  that  produces  the  disease. 

My  firm  convictions  are  that  the  disease  termed  sick  stomach  is  produced  by  the 
Rhus  Toxicodendron,  or  Poison  Oak , and  that  it  is  a separate  and  distinct  species  from 
the  Radicans,  or  Poison  Vine.  It  is  further  stated  that  the  Poison  Oak  never  vines  — 
that  it  is  never  seen  to  take  hold  on  trees,  and  that  it  grows  from  one  to  three  feel 
;n  height ; that  it  has  three , while  the  Radicans  or  Poison  Vine  has  five  leaves. 


THE  DISEASES  OF  CATTLE.  131 

Dr.  McIIhenny  thus  sums  up  the  reasons  which  lead  him  to  consider  the  tremble! 
as  the  effect  of  the  Rhus  Toxicodendron , or  poison  oak. 

“ To  sum  up  our  conclusions  on  the  cause  of  milk-sickness,  we  must  be  allowed  to 
express  our  decided  conviction,  that  it  is  produced  by  the  Rhus  Toxicodendron,  oi 
Poison  Oak,  for  the  following  reasons 

1.  Sick  stomach  does  not  prevail  where  there  is  no  rhus — that  in  every  section  of 
country  where  none  of  the  small  rhus  can  be  found,  there  can  be  none  of  the  trembles 
found. 

2.  It  does  universally  exist  where  there  is  an  abundance  of  the  smaller  rhusr 

3.  It  never  occurs  until  vegetation  comes  forth  in  the  spring. 

4.  Where  it  prevails  most,  the  rhus  is  in  its  greatest  luxuriance. 

5.  After  the  heavy  frosts  kill  all  vegetation,  the  disease  subsides. 

6.  It  is  a well-known  fact,  that  cultivation  kills  the  Poison  Oak  — entirely  de- 
stroys it. 

7-  It  is  equally  as  well  established,  that  animals  kept  within  a well-cultivated 
enclosure,  are  perfectly  exempt  from  the  disease. 

8.  Almost  every  observant  and  intelligent  individual  who  has  been  raised  amidst 
the  disease,  has  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  Rhus  Toxicodendron  is  the  cause  of 
milk  sickness. 

9.  That  it  is  distinguished  from  the  Radicans,  or  common  Poison  Vine,  by  its  dif- 
ferent number  of  leaves— also,  by  its  acridness  of  character. 

10.  A certain  locality  produces  the  disease,  find  it  where  you  may,  such  as  flat, 
heavy  timber-land,  interspersed  with  hazle  and  other  underl.ush,  which  is  quite 
productive  of  the  rhus. 

11.  The  seldom  appearance  of  the  disease  on  hilly,  dry  ground,  is  in  consequence 
of  such  a place  not  being  congenial  to  the  production  of  that  plant,  so  that  what 
little  does  exist,  is  not  so  apt  to  produce  the  disease,  in  consequence  of  its  unhealthy 
growth.” 

The  pathology  of  the  disease  is  thus  described  by  the  same  author : — 

“ As  to  the  pathology  of  this  disease  I know  but  little.  I have  treated  quite  a 
number  of  cases,  but  have  never  been  favoured  with  a post  mortem  examination; 
consequently,  I have  had  no  other  means  of  ascertaining  morbid  appearances  than 
*hat  of  judging  from  symptoms:  the  mere  external  developments  of  the  internal  con- 
dition. We  are  told,  however,  that  in  animals  which  die  of  this  disease,  the  many 
folds , or  mesentery,  is  in  a hard,  dry  condition,  and,  in  many  cases,  perfectly  black  ; 
and  that  all  the  folds  which  lie  enclosed  In  the  bowels,  and  are  in  close  contact  with 
them,  are  frequently  in  such  a brittle  condition,  that  they  can  be  readily  broken, 
particularly  those  that  envelope  the  stomach ; and  that  traces  of  inflammatory  ac- 
tion can  be  frequently  discovered  the  whole  length  of  the  intestinal  canal;  but  the 
greater  amount,  those  that  have  left  the  deepest  marks,  are  to  be  seen  in  and  around 
the  stomach  and  duodenum. 

“ If  this  should  be  a true  condition  of  the  morbid  appearances  of  the  animal,  which 
we  are  satisfied  it  is,  we  may  reasonably  expect  that  the  same  results  are  to  be  seen 
in  the  human  subject.  So  far,  however,  as  my  opinion  goes,  I believe  that  the  poison, 
when  taken  into  the  stomach,  produces  inflammation  of  that  organ,  particularly 
confined  to  the  mucous  coat ; that  inflammation  continuing,  thickens  the  mucous 
lining  to  such  an  extent,  that  it  closes,  in  proportion  to  its  severity,  the  passage 
from  the  stomach  to  the  bowels.  I am  satisfied  that  there  is  inflammation  down  to 
the  upper  part  of  the  bowels,  but,  generally,  in  a slight  degree.  I do  not  believe  that 
there  is  any  general  inflammatory  condition  of  any  of  the  chylopoetic  viscera,  but 
that  the  entire  force  of  the  disease  is  spent  upon  the  stomach,  and,  perhaps,  duo 
denum. 

“ From  what  observation  I have  been  able  to  make  upon  the  subject,  I am  inclined 
o the  opinion  that  the  lower  portions  of  the  bowels  remain,  measurably,  if  not  en 
irely,  exempt  from  inflammation  ; that  it  is  entirely  a disease  of  the  stomach ; tha 
m proportion  to  the  severity  with  which  that  organ  is  attacked,  in  that  proportion 
will  the  chylopoetic  viscera  become  deranged. 

“ Another  proof  that  the  disease  is  inflammatory,  is  the  constipated  condition  of 
the  bowels.  There  could  not  be  such  a dry  and  hardened  condition  of  the  fecal  matter 
produced  by  any  other  derangement,  excepting  that  of  inflammatory  action. 

“I  have  been  led  to  make  these  remarks,  in  consequence  of  an  opinion  that  is 
prevalent  with  some  of  our  practitioners,  that  the  disease  is  nervous;  that  the  gpeat 
gastric  irritability  is,  or  might  be,  attributed  to  nervous  excitement.  This,  to  me. 
appears  impossible ; for,  if  the  nervas  of  the  stomach  were  in  such  a morbid  condi 


132 


POSTSCRIPT  TO 


tion,  acting  under  such  a powerful  excitement  as  to  produce  such  distressing  symp 
toms,  would  not  the  brain  become  sympathetically  affected?  Would  we  not  have  an 
apparent  case  of  Phrenitis?  Whereas,  the  mind,  generally,  remains  quiet.  We 
sometimes  see  mental  depression,  but  rarely  ever  mental  aberration.” 

Professor  Drake  enumerates  the  animals  liable  to  this  disease,  as  the  cow,  horse, 
sheep,  hog,  dog,  goat  (doubtful),  and  the  mule  and  buzzard.  “ The  characteristic 
symptoms,”  says  he,  “ are  so  much  alike  in  all,  that  an  account  of  them  in  one  of 
the  species  will  serve  for  the  whole,”  and  he  selects  the  cow. 

“ In  the  earliest  stages  of  this  malady,  in  the  cow,  it  may  not  display  its  exist* 
ence,  if  the" attack  be  not  violent  and  the  animaljeft  to  itself;  for  in  the  beginning, 
as  in  all  stages  of  the  disorder,  the  appetite  seems  to  be  unimpaired,  and  the  thirst 
not  increased.  Even  this  early  stage,  not  less  than  the  more  advanced,  appears, 
however,  to  be  attended  with  constipation  of  the  bowels.  The  animal  at  length 
Degins  to  mope  and  droop,  to  walk  slower  than  its  fellows,  and  to  falter  in  its  gait, 
f,  under  these  circumstances,  it  should  be  driven,  and  attempt  to  run,  the  debility 
and  stiffness  of  its  muscles  are  immediately  apparent.  It  fails  rapidly,  trembles, 
Dants,  and  sometimes  seems  blind,  as  it  runs  against  obstacles,  but  this  may  arise 
.rom  vertigo ; at  length  it  falls  down,  lies  on  its  side  quivering,  and  is  not,  perhaps, 
able  to  rise  for  several  hours,  sometimes  never.  Now  and  then,  the  quivering  amounts 
*;o  a slight  convulsion.  When  the  disease  is  not  violent,  the  animal,  after  a longer 
or  shorter  period,  is  again  on  its  feet;  but  its  capacity  for  muscular  effort  is  greatly 
unpaired,  and,  if  hurried  in  the  slightest  degree,  it  is  seized  with  trembling  and  stiff- 
less, and  may  even  fall  again.  Of  the  state  of  the  circulation,  when  it  lies  seriously 
11,  but  little  is  known,  as  the  pulse  has  not  been  inspected.  One  observer  perceived 
.hat  the  nose  of  a heifer  was  hot,  but  others  have  found  that  part  and  the  skin 
generally  cool.  Perhaps  their  observations  were  made  in  different  stages  of  the  dis- 
ease. While  lying  unable  to  walk,  the  animal  will  still  eat  freely,  and  also  take 
drink,  but  does  not  seem  to  have  excessive  thirst.  Its  costiveness  continues  to  the 
last  when  the  malady  goes  on  to  a fatal  termination.  Of  the  symptoms  which  pre- 
cede dissolution  we  could  not  obtain  a satisfactory  account.  Our  witnesses  generally 
declared,  however,  that  the  abdomen  does  not  swell  in  any  stage  of  the  disease. 
When  it  assumes  a chronic  form,  the  animal  is  liable,  for  weeks  and  even  months, 
to  muscular  infirmity  under  exercise,  looks  gaunt  and  thin,  its  hair  assumes  a dead 
appearance,  and  sometimes  falls  off  in  considerable  quantities,  especially  from  the 
neck.” 

Finally,  as  to  the  remedy  for  this  dreadful  disorder  in  cattle,  we  quote  Professor 
Drake— Dr.  Mcllhenny’s  observations  applying  to  the  treatment  of  milk-sickness  iit 
the  human  subject  — and  then  append  the  article  on  mad-itch  and  black-foot  frorr 
Governor  Vance  with  the  following  introductory  remarks  : — 

“ Treatment  of  the  Trembles,— We,  met  with  no  medical  gentleman  who  had  sub- 
jected animals  labouring  under  this  disease  to  a systematic,  or  even  varied  empirica . 
treatment.  All  the  people  of  the  district  have  one  and  the  same  indication  to  fulfil, 
that  of  opening  the  bowels.  When  this  can  be  effected,  the  animal,  they  say,  scarcely 
ever  dies— when  it  cannot,  death  occurs.  For  the  fulfilment  of  this  indication,  epsom 
salts  has  been  administered  in  very  large  quantities,  even  to  pounds,  but  without 
effect  Drenches  of  lard  and  various  mixtures  have  also  been  given,  with  no  satis- 
factory result.  Judge  Harold,  near  South  Charleston,  has  exhibited  calomel  followed 
by  lard— no  essential  benefit.  Dr.  Toland  has  administered  the  oil  of  turpentine,  in 
doses  of  eight,  twelve,  and  sixteen  ounces,  without  advantage.  An  opinion  is  pre- 
valent that  drenching  animals  injures  them  by  causing  them  to  struggle.  On  the 
whole,  we  found  among  the  people  of  the  district  a total  want  of  confidence  in  all 
Kinds  of  cathartic  medicines ; an  exclusive  reliance  on  Indian  corn.  Some  pro 
ferred  old  corn,  some  new,  and  others  that  which  had  been  frost-bitten.  This  is  fed 
.0  all  those  species  of  animals  that  are  accustomed  to  eat  it,  and  is  said  never  to  be 
refused.  The  more  the  animal  will  eat,  the  greater  is  the  hope  of  the  owner.  It  is 
said  to  produce  purging,  when  every  other  means  have  failed,  and  then,  it  is  affirm- 
ed, recovery  is  almost  certain.  On  these  points  we  found  but  one  opinion  in  the 
district.  Several  of  its  physicians,  after  trying  other  things,  had,  with  the  people, 
settled  down  on  this. 

“ We  found  blood-letting  not  in  favour.  Dr.  Toland  supposes  it  has,  generally,  been 
employed  at  too  late  a period.  Many  non-professional  persons  spoke  of  having  re- 
sorted to  it  without  advantage,  and  some  thought  it  had  done  harm. 


THE  DISEASES  OF  CATTLE 


183 


“Throughout  the  disease,  rest  is  considered  a sine  qua  non  to  the  favourable  effect 
of  any  measure,  and  of  itself,  in  mild  cases,  sufficient ; that  is,  if  they  be  not  aggra- 
vated by  exercise,  the  disease  will  wear  itself  out,  or  spontaneously  subside.” 

Other  diseases  of  cattle  which  prevail  in  Ohio  and  the  West  have  been  thus  de- 
scribed to  us  by  Governor  Vance  of  Ohio,  a gentleman  alike  distinguished  for  the 
study  and  the  practice  of  what  is  useful  and  amiable,  rather  than  the  ornamental— 
hence  his  great  and  deserved  popularity. 

From  Governor  Vance , of  Ohio . m 

[Mad  Itch.— The  effect  of  cattle  following  hogs  that  are  fed  on  green  corn,  cut  up 
and  thrown  to  them  when  in  the  roasting-ear  state,  is  very  fatal.  The  hogs  will 
chew  the  corn-stalk,  and  extract  all  the  sap,  and  then  throw  it  out.  These  fibres 
thus  thrown  out,  with  all  the  sap  extracted,  will  be  eaten  voraciously  by  the  cattle. 
It  contains  no  nutriment  to  give  fermentation  to  enable  the  animal  to  ruminate; 
and  it  thus  lays  dormant  and  inactive  in  the  many  folds,  or  stomach  ; becomes  per- 
fectly  compact  and  undigestable ; creates  fever,  and  in  the  end  destroys  the  animal. 

Cattle  destroyed  by  eating  these  fibres  of  the  corn-stalk  will  first  show  the  symp- 
tom by  a wild  stare  of  the  eye,  and  in  its  first  stages  will  frequently  become  cross, 
and  even  attack  their  keepers.  They  will  then  begin  to  rub  the  no&e  and  head  against 
the  fence  until  the  skin  and  flesh  are  torn  and  lacerated  in  a most  frightful  manner, 
and  in  the  end  die  in  great  misery.  I have  lost  many  fine  cattle  in  this  way,  and 
have  never  been  able  to  save  one  thus  afflicted.  The  entire  symptoms  are  similar  to 
what  is  called  the  mad  itch,  which  I have  no  doubt  is  created  by  the  same  cause,  by 
taking  into  many  folds  indigestible  matter  incapable  of  fermentation  and  rumina- 
tion. 

Black  Foot.— There  is  a late  complaint  amongst  our  cattle  in  the  west,  called  the 
olack  foot.  It  is  fatal  to  stock,  destroying  them  in  a few  hours.  The  attack  is  gene- 
rally in  the  fore  leg  or  foot ; the  animal  becomes  stiff,  and  moves  with  great  difficulty 
the  flesh  turning  black  from  the  foot  to  the  body,  causing  mortification  and  imme- 
diate death.  This  disease  has  never  been  in  my  stock,  and  I only  speak  of  it  from 
information  ; but  it  is  said  to  be  very  fatal,  and  as  far  as  I have  heard  we  are  with 
out  a cure  or  preventive  to  arrest  its  progress.] 


12 


ESSAY 


ON  THE 

\D1  ANTAGES  TO  BE  DERIVED  FROM  A MORE  EXTENDED 

USE  OE  OXEN 


IN  THE 

HUSBANDRY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 

BY  J.  S.  SKINNER,  Esq. 


So  deep  is  the  conviction  of  the  great  saving  which  would  be  ac 
complished  by  individuals,  adding  immensely,  in  the  aggregate,  u 
our  national  wealth,  by  a more  extended  use  of  oxen  in  lieu  of  horses 
in  the  general  labours  of  husbandry,  that  the  occasion  is  here  em- 
braced to  present  the  views  by  which  that  conviction  has  been 
established,  and  the  editor  feels  persuaded  that  he  might  venture  tc 
introduce  these  views,  on  the  score  of  their  intrinsic  importance, 
even  though  the  subject  to  which  they  relate  were  not  so  naturally 
associated,  as  it  seems  to  be,  with  a work  on  the  diseases  of  cattle. 

That  “ a farming  district  may  be  judged  of  by  its  working  oxen , 
as  safely  as  by  its  bams  or  its  corn-fields,”  has  been  laid  down  as 
an  axiom  by  a Committee  of  Farmers,  — working  men  in  the  true 
sense  of  the  word,  — of  Massachusetts,  at  an  exhibition  where  no 
premium  was  offered  for  horses , expressly  on  the  ground  that  “ it  was 
believed  that  the  interest  of  the  farmer  is  promoted  by  substituting 
the  ox  for  the  horse,  for  most  purposes,  as  he  is  fed  with  less  expense 
is  more  patient  of  labour,  and  is  more  valuable  when  his  service  i* 
ended.”  This  declaration  in  favour  of  the  ox  for  “ most  purposes”  is 
at  once  explicit  and  broad,  and  might  seem  to  settle  the  question; 
but  there  are  considerations  arising  out  of  difference  of  soil  and  cli- 
mate, which  obviously  demand  a comparison  of  circumstances  to  see 
how  far  that  system  admits  of  general  application,  which  is  here 
proclaimed  on  the  best  authority  to  be  expedient  throughout  New 
England  : and  this  brings  us  at  once  to  the  most  formidable  objections 
to  the  use  of  oxen  — their  alleged  incapacity  to  withstand , when  labour- 
ing, the  heat  of  more  southern  latitudes , and  their  slowness  of  motion . 

As  to  New  England,  in  addition  to  the  evidence  already  quoted, 
we  may  give  here  the  answer  of  the  venerable  Josiah  Quincy,  now 
President  of  the  time-honoured  Harvard  University,  to  a letter  once 

(135) 


ESSaY  on  the 


1 36 


addressed  to  him  by  the  writer  of  this — “ Oxen,”  said  he,  “ are  used 
almost  wholly  for  plough  and  team  work  in  this  quarter  of  the  coun- 
try. A single  horse  is  usually  kept  by  our  farmers  to  go  to  mill  and 
to  church,  and  for  the  convenience  of  the  family.  This  is  so  universal 
as  to  be  almost  without  exception  among  mere  farmers.  They  cer- 
tainly answer  all  purposes  except  perhaps  speed,  and  in  this,  on  a 
long  journey , they  are  considered  as  quite  equal  to  horses.  Our  far- 
mers are  so  satisfied  with  their  utility  and  economy,  that  no  argument 
would  induce  them  to  change.” 

Hence  it  is  seen  that  no  reasoning  is  necessary  to  recommend  ttie 
ox  to  general  use  in  all  that  portion  of  America,  and  this  evidence 
has  been  adduced  to  prevail  upon  southern  readers  to  reflect  on  the 
subject,  by  showing,  what  many  of  them  do  not  know,  that  already, 
in  many  of  our  States  where  the  folks  are  nice  judges  of  economical 
and  labour-saving  machines,  animate  and  inanimate,  oxen  are  actually 
substituted,  and  horses  altogether  banished  for  all  farming  purposes, 
and  that  their  speed  on  long  journeys  is  quite  equal  to  that  of  horses. 
On  the  point  of  speed  we  shall  speak  again  and  conclusively,  when  we 
shall  have  dismissed  the  one  in  hand,  to  wit: — capacity  to  bear  heat ! 

It  was  for  a long  time  believed  that  the  ox  was  a native  of  Europe, 
and  that  in  the  Aurock,  running  wild  in  the  forests  of  Poland,  his 
original  type  was  to  be  found  ; but  Cuvier’s  researches  in  compara- 
tive anatomy  have  established  the  belief  that  the  cow  is  a native  of 
Southern  Asia,  and  thence  may  be  deduced  an  argument  that  there 
is  nothing  in  the  natural  constitution  of  the  ox  which  forbids  his 
manifesting  his  entire  capabilities  in  southern  climates.  If  there 
were,  how  is  it  that  in  South  America  he  reaches  his  highest  deve- 
lopements  of  size  and  power?  As  one  of  the  Commissioners  to  South 
America,  Chancellor  Bland,  in  a report  which  Mr.  Adams  pronounced 
to  be  one  of  the  ablest  papers  ever  presented  to  the  government,  thus 
describes  the  ox-carts  employed,  and  the  wonderful  powers  of  endu- 
rance of  this  patient  animal  in  crossing  the  pampas  of  Buenos  Ayres. 
It  speaks  conclusively  to  both  the  objections  — want  of  speed  and  of 
power  to  bear  heat. 

46  The  Tucuman  and  Mendoza  carts,  at  a little  distance,  looked 
like  thatched  cabins  slowly  moving  over  the  plain  — the  whole  ma- 
chine is  destitute  of  a nail  or  a bit  of  iron ; its  great  coarse  wheels 
are  not  less  than  eight  feet  in  diameter  ; six  oxen,  in  general  noble 
strong  animals,  move  it;  the  two  front  pair  have  a great  length  of 
cord  by  which  they  draw ; and  the  load  of  the  cart,  which,  on  an 
average,  is  not  less  than  four  thousand  weight,  is  pretty  nearly 
balanced  on  the  axletree ; the  body  of  the  cart  is  either  covered  with 
raw  hide  or  thatch,  made  of  reeds  or  straw ; and  with  a collection  of 
brushwood,  as  fuel,  tied  on  the  top,  and  brought  from  the  westward 
of  the  pampas,  these  carts  are  seen  crossing  the  plains  in  caravans 
of  from  thirty  to  forty  together.  On  the  journey  the  oxen  are  unyoked 
occasionally  through  the  day  and  night,  and  permitted  to  seek  their 
food  round  about.  Thus  without  any  other  provision  than  what  is 


USE  OF  OXEN  . 


13  j 


necessary  for  himself,  the  carrier  pursues  his  way  over  a waste  of 
thirty  days  or  six  weeks  passage.  From  Buenos  Ayres  to  Mendoza 
the  distance  is  nine  hundred  miles,  and  the  journey  is  performed  in 
about  thirty  days.” 

In  some  parts  of  England  they  formerly  had  ox  races , and  it  is  said 
mat  some  years  ago  an  ox  ran  four  miles,  over  the  course  at  Lewis, 
for  one  hundred  guineas,  at  the  rate  of  fifteen  miles  the  hour. 

We  are  told  that  in  India  bullocks  are  used  for  the  saddle  and 
coach,  and  that  there  travelling  oxen  are  curried,  clothed  and  attend- 
ed, with  as  much  solicitude,  and  much  greater  kindness,  than  we 
bestow  on  our  best  horses.  The  Indian  cattle  are  extremely  docile, 
and  quick  of  perception,  patient  and  kind  ; like  the  horses,  their  chief 
travelling  pace  is  the  trot;  and  they  are  reported  by  those  who  have 
ridden  them  often,  to  perform  journeys  of  sixty  successive  days  at 
the  rate  of  thirty  to  forty-five  miles  a day. 

To  come  back  to  our  own  country  on  this  point,  it  is  worthy  of 
being  here  added  that  in  an  address  delivered  before  the  Barnwell 
Agricultural  Society  of  South  Carolina  in  1821,  Dr.  J.  S.  Bellinger 
remarked,  that  “ in  the  lower  districts  of  our  State  they  appear  fully 
to  appreciate  the  value  of  their  labour  in  heavy  drafts.  With  those 
of  us  who  have  attempted  the  use  of  them,  oxen  appear  fully  calcu- 
lated to  answer  the  many  purposes  upon  our  farms  to  which  we  almost 
exclusively  apply  the  more  expensive,  though  nobler  animal,  the 
horse.” 

Time  was  when  the  horse  was  not  considered  “the  nobler”  of  the 
two  ; else  why  the  many  cautions  in  Scripture  in  favour  and  in  honou 
of  the  ox — thou  shalt  not  muzzle  the  ox  — thy  ox  shall  not  labou 
on  the  Sabbath  day  — thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbour’s  wife  nor 
his  maid  — nor  his  ox! 

The  late  James  M.  Garnett,  of  Virginia,  honoured  be  his  name  by 
all  friends  of  American  agriculture,  stated  in  one  of  his  addresses  — 
“A  gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  had  a mixed  team  of  horses, 
mules,  and  oxen  — in  each  season  his  horses  failed  first,  the  mules 
next,  although  both  were  fed  upon  grain  and  hay;  and  the  oxen,  fed 
exclusively  on  hay  and  grass,  finished  the  crop.  But  to  come  down  to 
the  present  time  and  nearer  home,  in  Maryland,  at  the  hottest  season 
of  the  year  and  the  most  busy  one  with  the  planter,  the  same  teams 
of  oxer?  are  worked,  during  the  whole  day,  hauling  very  heavy  loads 
of  green  tobacco  for  weeks  together,  and  do  well  without  any  food 
but  the  grass  of  common  pasturage  on  being  turned  out  at  night  — 
whereas  horses,  working  steadily  in  the  same  way,  on  the  national 
road  in  wagons,  consume  twenty-five  pounds  of  hay,  and  grain  at  the 
rate  of  four  bushels  of  oats  per  day  for  the  five  horses,  or  four-fifths 
of  a bushel  for  each  horse  — or,  what  is  considered  equivalent,  four 
bushels  of  corn  in  the  ear  — making  of  oats  at  the  rate  of  two  hundred 
and  thirty-two  bushels  for  each  horse  for  a year ! 

As  to  horse  power  on  the  national  road,  the  following  is  the  answer 
from  Major  Thruston: — 

12* 


138 


ESSAY  ON  THE 


“ Cumberland,  Maryland,  Nov.  17, 1843  : — The  general  result,  (for 
they  differ  widely  in  their  opinions),  obtained  by  conrersation  with 
the  oldest  teamsters  on  the  national  road,  is  this  — A five-horse  team 
with  a load  of  sixty  cwt.  (the  average)  will  make  daily,  throughout 
the  year,  fifteen  miles  per  day ; the  weight  of  the  empty  wagon  be- 
tween one  and  a half  and  two  tons.  At  this  work  horses  will  not 
last  as  long  as  at  farm-work  by  one-third,  certainly.  They  average  one 
§et  of  shoes  monthly,  each  horse;  cost  of  shoes,  one  dollar  each  per 
month ; feed,  four  bushels  of  oats  per  day,  or  four-fifths  of  a bushel  per 
day  to  each  horse;  the  same  of  corn  in  the  ear ; hay,  twenty-five 
pounds.  On  this  subject  they  are  uniform  in  their  statements.  This 
amount  of  food  is  enough,  and  not  more  than  will  be  consumed.” 

But  the  comparison  in  point  of  expense  will  be  extended  in  an- 
other part  of  this  essay. 

In  answer  to  the  argument  against  oxen  now  under  consideration, 
and  the  one  which  has  had  most  influence  in  restricting  the  use  of 
them,  we  now  offer  the  views  urged  by  the  illustrious  Madison, 
whose  pen  simplified  and  enlightened  every  subject  it  touched,  as 
could  not  but  happen  with  a mind  so  pure  and  so  bright. 

The  objections  generally  made  to  the  ox  are — 1st,  that  he  is  less 
tractable  than  the  horse ; 2d,  that  he  does  not  bear  heat  as  well ; 3d, 
that  he  does  not  answer  for  the  single  plough  used  in  our  corn-fields ; 
4th,  that  he  is  slower  in  his  movements ; 5th,  that  he  is  less  fit  for 
carrying  the  produce  of  the  farm  to  market. 

The  first  objection  is  certainly  founded  in  mistake.  Of  the  two 
animals  che  ox  is  the  most  docile.  In  all  countries  where  the  ox  is 
the  ordinary  draught  animal,  his  docility  is  proverbial.  His  intracta- 
bility, wrhere  it  exists,  has  arisen  from  an  occasional  use  of  him  only, 
with  long  and  irregular  intervals;  during  which,  the  habit  of  disci- 
pline being  broken,  a new  one  is  to  be  formed. 

The  second  objection  has  as  little  foundation.  The  constitution  of 
the  ox  accommodates  itself  as  readily  as  that  of  the  horse  to  different 
climates.  Not  only  in  ancient  Greece  and  Italy,  but  throughout  Asia, 
as  presented  to  us  in  ancient  history,  the  ox  and  the  plough  are  asso- 
ciated. At  this  day,  in  the  warm  parts  of  India  and  China,  the  ox, 
not  the  horse,  is  in  the  draught  service.  In  every  part  of  India  the 
ox  always  appears,  even  in  the  train  of  her  armies.  And  in  the  hottest 
parts  of  the  West  Indies,  the  ox  is  employed  in  hauling  the  weighty 
produce  to  the  seaports.  The  mistake  here,  as  in  the  former  case, 
has  arisen  from  the  effect  of  an  occasional  employment  only,  with  no 
other  than  green  food.  The  fermentation  of  this  in  the  animal,  heated 
by  the  weather,  and  fretted  by  the  discipline,  will  readily  account  for 
his  sinking  under  his  exertions ; when  green  food  even,  much  less 
dry,  with  a sober  habit  of  labour,  would  have  no  such  tendency. 

The  third  objection  also  is  not  a solid  one.  The  ox  can,  by  a pro- 
per harness,  be  used  singly,  as  well  as  the  horse,  between  the  rows 
of  Indian  corn;  and  equally  so  used  for  other  purposes.  Experience 
Huy  be  safely  appealed  to  on  this  point. 


USE  OP  OXEN. 


139 


In  the  fourth  place,  it  is  alleged  that  he  is  slower  in  his  move- 
ments. This  is  true,  but  in  a less  degree  than  is  often  taken  for 
granted.  Oxen  that  are  well  chosen  for  their  form  are  not  worked 
after  the  age  of  about  eight  years,  (the  age  at  which  they  are  best 
fitted  for  beef),  are  not  worked  too  many  together,  and  are  suitably 
matched,  may  be  kept  at  nearly  as  quick  a step  as  that  of  the  horse, 
might  I not  say  quicker  than  that  of  many  of  the  horses  we  see  at 
work,  who,  on  account  of  their  age,  or  the  leanness  occasioned  by 
the  costliness  of  the  food  they  require,  lose  the  advantage  where  they 
might  have  once  had  it  1 

The  last  objection  has  most  weight.  The  ox  is  not  as  well  adapted 
as  the  horse  to  the  road  service,  especially  for  long  trips.  In  common 
roads,  which  are  often  soft,  and  sometimes  suddenly  become  so,  the 
form  of  his  foot  and  the  shortness  of  his  leg  are  disadvantages;  and, 
on  roads  frozen  or  turnpiked,  the  roughness  of  the  surface  in  the 
former  case,  and  its  hardness  in  both  cases,  are  inconvenient  to  his 
cloven  foot.  But  where  the  distance  to  market  is  not  gre&  .,  where 
the  varying  state  of  the  roads  and  of  the  weather  can  be  consulted, 
and  where  the  road  service  is  less  in  proportion  to  the  farm  service, 
the  objection  is  almost  deprived  of  its  weight. 

In  cases  where  it  most  applies,  its  weight  is  diminished  hv  the 
consideration  that  a much  greater  proportion  of  service  on  the  farm 
may  be  done  by  oxen  than  is  now  commonly  done , and  that  the  ex- 
pense of  shoeing  them  is  little  different  from  that  of  keeping  horses 
shod.  It  is  observable  that  when  oxen  are  worked  on  the  farm  over 
rough  frozen  ground,  they  suffer  so  much  from  the  want  of  shoes, 
however  well  fed  they  may  be,  that  it  is  a proper  subject  for  calcula- 
tion whether  true  economy  does  not  require  for  them  that  accommo- 
dation, even  on  the  farm,  as  well  as  for  the  horses. 

A more  important  calculation  is,  whether,  in  many  situations,  the 
general  saving  by  substituting  the  ox  for  the  horse  would  not  balance 
the  expense  of  hiring  a conveyance  of  the  produce  to  market.  In  the 
same  scale  with  the  hire  is  to  be  put  the  value  of  the  grass  and  hay 
consumed  by  the  oxen ; and  in  the  other  scale,  the  value  of  the  corn, 
amounting  to  one-half  of  the  crop,  and  of  the  grass  and  hay  consumed 
by  the  horses.  Where  tne  market  is  not  distant,  the  value  of  the 
corn  saved  would  certainly  pay  for  the  carriage  of  the  market  portion 
of  the  crop,  and  balance,  moreover,  any  difference  between  the  ralue 
of  the  grass  and  hay  consumed  by  oxen,  and  the  value  of  the  oxen 
when  slaughtered  for  beef.  In  all  these  calculations,  it  is  doubtless 
proper  not  to  lose  sight  of  the  rule,  that  farmers  ought  to  avoid  pay- 
ing others  for  doing  what  they  can  do  for  themselves.  But  the  ruls 
has  its  exceptions,  and  the  error,  if  it  be  committed,  will  not  lie  in 
departing  from  the  rule,  but  in  not  selecting  arigbt  the  cases  which 
call  for  the  departure.  It  may  be  remarked  that  the  rule  ought  to  be 
more  or  less  general,  as  there  may  or  may  not  be  at  hand  a market 
by  which  every  produce  of  labour  is  convertible  into  money.  In  the 
10 


-40 


ESSAY  ON  THE 


Did  countries,  this  is  much  more  the  case  than  in  new ; and  in  new, 
much  more  the  case  near  towns  than  at  a distance  from  them.  In 
this,  as  in  most  other  parts  of  our  country,  a change  of  circumstances 
s taking  place  which  renders  everything  raised  on  a farm  more  con- 
vertible into  money  than  formerly ; and  as  the  change  proceeds,  it 
wil  be  more,  and  more  a point  for  consideration  how  far  the  labour  in 
doing  what  might  be  bought,  could  earn  more  in  another  way  than 
the  amount  of  the  purchase.  Still,  it  will  always  be  prudent,  for 
reasons  which  every  experienced  farmer  will  understand,  to  lean  to 
the  side  of  doing  rather  than  hiring  or  buying  what  may  be  wanted.” 
The  next  most  serious  charge  against  the  ox  is  constitutional  slow- 
ness of  motion , which,  as  many  suppose,  no  course  of  education  can 
overcome,  but  which  may  be  set  off  in  comparison  with  the  greater 
speed  of  the  horse,  as  iEsop  illustrated  the  difference  in  the  long  run 
between  the  pace  of  the  4 tortoise  and  the  hare  /’ — 44  The  greater  haste 
the  less  speed,”  is  a proverb  suited  to  this  case  as  to  that.  It  has 
already  been  seen  that  ox-teams  travel  over  the  ever-verdant  pampas 
of  Buenos  Ayres,  at  the  rate  of  thirty  miles  a day,  for  a month  toge- 
ther. Twenty  years  ago,  the  writer  of  this  held  correspondence  with 
Commodore  Jacob  Jones,  himself  a practical  farmer,  and  an  habitually 
close  and  judicious  observer,  and  then  commanding  our  squadron  in 
the  Mediterranean,  on  the  subject  of  Andalusian  horses,  cattle,  and 
other  animals,  with  a view  to  the  importation,  under  authority  from 
the  Albemarle  Agricultural  Society,  of  such  as  might  be  deemed 
essentially  superior  to  animals  of  the  same  species  in  America;  and 
we  now  quote  from  his  letter  as  applicable  to  the  questions  both  of 
speed  and  susceptibility  to  heat:  — “The  cattle  that  I have  seen  in 
Spain  appear  to  be  nothing  superior  to  ours,  nor  have  I seen  anywhere 
on  the  coasts  of  the  Mediterranean  any  that  appear  better  than  those 
in  America,  except  a race  of  white  cattle  at  Naples  used  for  the 
draft.  I was  informed  by  a gentleman  who,  in  supplying  the  govern- 
ment with  timber,  had  used  thirty  yoke  of  them  for  two  years,  that 
during  that  time  they  had  constantly  travelled  from  twenty  to  twenty- 
five  miles  a day.  They  are  generally  fifteen  hands  high  ; their  bodies 
long,  thin,  and  deep ; legs  long;  small  light  head  ; sharp  muzzle  re- 
sembling deer ; colour  entirely  white,  except  black  nose,  ears,  and 
tuft  of  the  tail.  They  are  most  frequently  worked  in  the  thills  of  the 
cart,  and  are  as  spirited  and  walk  as  quick  as  a horse,  and  appeared 
not  to  suffer  from  heat  more  than  a horse.” 

To  show,  however,  that  we  are  not  dependent  on  any  foreign  stock, 
it  may  be  stated  that  the  small,  pale-red  old  field  ox  about  Salisbury 
m Maryland  will  travel  twenty-five  miles  in  a day,  with  heavy  load.* 
of  lumber  going,  and  returning  empty,  over  the  sandy  roads  of  that 
region;  wnile  it  may  be  affirmed,  after  particular  inquiry,  that  the 
distance  made  by  the  heavy-bodied.,  grain-devouring,  Conestoga 
horses  on  the  national  road  between  Cumberland  and  Wheeling 
averages  not  ove  r sixteen  miles,  six  horses  with  loads  of  from  six  to 
eight  thousand  pounds. 


USE  OF  OXEN  . 


141 


To  the  letter  from  Major  Thruston  already  given  may  be  added  the 
following,  which  goes  somewhat  more  into  detail,  from  Mr.  Agnew, 
Postmaster  at  Wheeling,  Virginia : — 


Wheeling , Nov.  23 d,  1843. 

J.  S.  Skinner,  Esq. 

Dear  Sir,  — Your  favour  requesting  me  to  obtain  information  re- 
specting horses,  wagons,  &c.,  was  received  in  due  course  of  mail ; 
but  as  I was  just  leaving  for  Pittsburgh,  I was  compelled  to  defer 
answering  until  my  return.  I conferred  with  several  wagoners,  and 
give  below  the  result  of  their  united  opinions. 


Respectfully,  your  ob’t.  servant, 

David  Agnew. 


1.  The  usual  average  daily  travel  of  load- 
ed wagons  ? 

2 w many  horses,  and  their  average 
cost  or  value  ? 

3.  The  average  time  that  horses  so  em- 
ployed will  last  ? 

t.  At  what  age  is  it  considered  safe  to 
put  them  to  such  labour? 

5.  What  the  average  cost  of  shoeing  each 
horse  per  annum  ? 

What  is  the  usual  feed  of  kind  and 
quantity,  and  to  how  many  oats  is  it 
equivalent  where  oats  are  not  used  ? 

7.  As  to  hay  — is  it  in  regular  use  on  the 

road,  or  does  cut  straw,  or  what,  take 
the  place  of  it  ? 

8.  What  is  the  usual  weight  of  their  load 

exclusive  of  their  wagons,  and  what 
the  weight  of  the  wagons  ? 

9.  What  is  the  first  cost  of  wagon-har- 

ness per  horse,  and  how  long  will  a 
set  of  harness  last  ? 

10.  What  is  the  cost  of  a wagon  in  pro- 
portion to  what  it  will  carry  — and 
about  how  long  will  a wagon  last 
with  ordinary  care  ? 


Sixteen  miles. 

Six  horses,  average  cost  of  each  sixty-five 
dollars. 

Seven  years. 

Five  years.  Many  are  used  at  three  and 
four  years. 

Fifteen  dollars. 

Oats  is  the  only  feed  in  use.  Four  and  a 
half  bushels  is  allowed  per  day  for 
six  horses. 

Cut  straw  is  not  used.  Hay  is  in  regular 
use. 

The  weight  of  loads  varies  from  sixty  to 
eighty  hundred  pounds;  seventy  hun- 
dred pounds  is  the  usual  weight  ; 
wagon’s  weight  about  3,500  lbs. 

A wagon  of  the  largest  size  used  on  the 
..  national  road  costs  $250;  harness 
per  horse,  $20;  and  will  last  six  years. 

A wagon  that  will  carry  3,000  lbs.  costs 
$150 ; 4,000  lbs  $100 ; 5,000  lbs.  $175  ; 
6,000  lbs.  $200;  7,000  lbs.  and  up- 
wards, $250;  and  with  ordinary  care 
will  last  four  years. 


In  support  of  the  adaptation  of  the  ox  to  the  road  for  heavy  draft 
and  long  journeys,  the  last  authority  which  it  is  deemed  necessary  to 
produce  is  one  of  unquestionable  validity ; being  no  other  than  the 
testimony  of  the  late  Timothy  Pickering.  Being  called  on  for  his 
knowledge  of  the  employment  of  ox-teams  for  the  transportation  of 
military  stores  during  the  revolution,  when  he  acted  as  Quarter-Mas- 
ter-General under  General  Washington,  the  following  is  extracted 
from  an  interesting  reply,  in  which  other  views  are  embraced,  con- 
nected with  other  aspects  of  the  subject,  to  be  presently  considered  : 
“When  in  August,  1781,  disappointed  in  the  expected  co-operation 
of  a French  fleet  against  the  enemy  in  New  York,  the  commander- 
in-chief  decided  on  the  expedition  against  the  British  army  under 
Lord  Cornwallis  in  Virginia,  I received  his  orders  to  provide  fof 


M2 


ESSAY  ON  THE 


moving  tie  troops  destined  for  that  service.  The  ox-tea  ns  effectually 
performed  the  transportation  of  baggage  and  stores  to  the  points  where 
they  were  relieved  by  water  conveyances.  From  the  head  of  Elk  in 
Maryland  (sixteen  miles  eastward  of  the  Susquehanna)  to  James’ 
River  in  Virginia,  near  three  hundred  miles,  the  ox-teams  (without 
loads)  travelled  expeditiously.  The  heavy  artillery,  shot,  shells,  &c., 
brought  from  the  head  of  Elk  by  water,  were  landed  on  the  shore  of 
James’  River,  I think  at  or  near  Jamestown,  whence  they  were  trans- 
ported by  the  ox-teams  to  our  camp  before  Yorktown,  a distance,  I 
believe,  of  about  fourteen  miles.  In  the  performance  of  this  service, 
those  teams  were  of  essential  importance. 

“ The  late  Colonel  Jeremiah  Wadsworth  of  Connecticut  (one  of 
the  most  judicious  and  efficient  men  in  business  that  I ever  knew) 
was  then  the  contractor  for  supplying  the  French  army  with  provi- 
sions, teams,  carriages, — in  a word,  with  everything  necessary  for  it, 
in  the  quarter-master’s  and  commissary’s  departments.  I introduce 
his  name,  because  he  had  provided  a great  number  of  ox-teams  and 
wagons  for  the  use  of  the  French  army  during  the  same  campaign, 
and  these  also  travelled  to  Virginia . 

“ I always  understood  that  the  great  transportation  of  provision  and 
stores  from  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  to  the  troops  on  Hudson’s 
River,  was  almost  wholly  performed  by  ox-teams  during  the  war . 

“Just  at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  the  summer  of  1783,  I recollect 
being  at  the  house  of  an  agricultural  gentleman  of  Princeton,  in  New 
Jersey,  where  Congress  was  then  sitting,  and  that  Charles  Thomson, 
the  Secretary,  was  present.  One  of  Arthur  Young’s  Agricultural 
Tours  in  England  lay  on  the  table,  and  gave  rise  to  a conversation 
on  the  use  of  oxen  for  the  draft,  particularly  when  geared  with  collars, 
hames,  and  traces,  like  horses;  and  Mr.  Thomson  related  the  follow- 
ing fact,  now,  for  substance,  perfectly  in  my  recollection.  Travelling 
in  that  part  of  Chester  county  in  Pennsylvania  which  lay  between 
Lancaster  in  that  State  and  Newport  on  Christiana  creek,  Mr.  Thom- 
son fell  in  with  a team  of  a novel  character  in  that  country,  being 
composed  of  one  pair  of  horses  and  one  pair  of  oxen : and  the  latter, 
were  accoutred  with  harness  like  horses , only  with  the  collars  turned 
upside  down . His  curiosity  being  excited,  he  stopped  and  made  some 
inquiries,  and  received  from  the  driver  an  account  as  follows : that 
he  and  a neighbour,  each  having  a horse-team  and  wagon,  had  enter- 
ed into  a contract  to  transport  a quantity  of  flour  (I  think  in  a given 
time)  to  Newport;  that  in  the  midst  of  the  work  one  or  two  of  his 
horses  failed,  (fell  sick  or  died),  and  he  was  not  in  circumstances 
conveniently  to  procure  others ; but  he  had  a pair  of  oxen,  and  he 
concluded  to  try  whether  they  would  supply  the  place  of  his  horses 
that  he  made  the  experiment  and  succeeded.  He  told  Mr.  Thomson 
that  the  oxen  were  more  useful  to  him  than  horses ; for  after  some 
fall-rains,  when  the  roads  had  become  miry,  he  continued  to  carry 
his  full  complement  of  barrels  of  flour,  while  his  neighbours  horse- 


USE  OF  OXEN 


143 


team,  frequently  getting  stalled , (the  familiar  term  m Pennsylvania 
when  a team  gets  set  fast  in  a slough),  compelled  him  to  lessen  his 
loads - But  he  added,  that  in  returning  from  Newport  with  thtir 
wagons  empty , his  neighbour  had  the  advantage  in  speed , although 
none  in  the  actual  performance  of  the  contract.” 

Thus  it  appears  that  as  Rome  is  said  to  have  been  saved  by  the 
cackling  of  geese,  the  labour  of  oxen  contributed  on  a critical  occa- 
sion to  the  establishment  of  the  American  Republic.  So  much  in 
answer  may  we  not  say  in  refutation,  of  the  objection  made  to  these 
animals  in  comparison  with  horses  for  heavy  draft  even  on  the  road. 

OX-SHOES  AND  MACHINE  FOR  SHOEING  OXEN. 

A great  impediment  to  the  use  of  oxen  on  our  public  roads  in  the 
winter  season,  is  the  liability  of  their  feet  to  get  sore  for  want  of  shoes 
— a great  scandal  on  the  intelligence  and  humanity  of  all  southern 
farmers — for  nothing  can  be  easier  or  more  simple  than  the  manner 
of  doing  it  in  New  England,  where  cattle  driven  on  the  roads  in 
winter  are  as  regularly  shod  as  horses.  In  the  hope  of  introducing  a 
practice  recommended  equally  by  interest  and  humanity,  a view  is 
here  given  of  the  frame  used  for  that  purpose,  and  the  smith  who  does 
not  provide  himself  with  one  ought  not  to  receive  the  patronage  of 
any  enlightened  neighbourhood. 


The  frame,  as  here  exhibited,  should  be  seven  and  a half  feet  long 
Dy  three  and  a half  wide,  and  five  and  a half  high,  consisting  of  foul 
jpright  posts  AAA  A,  and  two  horizontal  bars  on  each  side  B BB  Bf 


144 


ESSAY  ON  THE 


joined  by  mortices  In  the  bars  of  one  end,  at  the  distance  of  ten 
inches  from  each  other,  are  two  perpendicular  stanchions,  the  one 
fixed,  the  other  moveable,  and  fastened  by  a key  D,  which  are  let 
into  the  bars  and  form  a head  stall.  The  lower  bars  of  the  sides  are 
eighteen  inches  from  the  ground.  Immediately  under  the  upper  bar 
on  the  right  side  is  a windlass  E E,  separated  in  the  centre,  working 
in  the  posts,  and  a block  K let  fall  from  the  bar — with  one  end  pass- 
ing over,  and  moving  upon  the  opposite  beam,  is  a broad  leather  strap 
six  feet  long,  attached  by  an  iron  ring  at  the  other  end  to  the  staples 
in  the  windlass.  To  give  sufficient  stability,  the  posts  may  either  be 
let  into  the  ground,  or  framed  into  sills,  with  end  braces. 

The  ox  to  be  shod  is  led  into  the  frame,  and  his  head  confined  ir 
the  head  stall.  The  strap  is  brought  under  the  lower  part  of  the  bell} 
and  fastened  to  the  windlass,  by  turning  which  his  hind  feet  are 
raised  six  or  eight  inches  from  the  ground.  The  foot  is  then  lashed 
by  a cord  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  lower  bar.  In  this  situation 
the  shoes  are  easily  set.  By  moving  the  strap  till  it  comes  near  the 
fo*e-legs  the  other  part  of  the  body  is  raised,  and  the  shoes  set  on  the 
fore-feet  in  like  manner. 

The  shoe  is  the  arc  of  a circle,  of  the  thickness  of  a common  horse- 
shoe, from  half  to  three-quarters  of  an  inch  wide,  flattened  to  double 
that  width  at  the  hind  part.  The  flat  or  hind  part  covers  the  frog,  the 
tenderest  part  of  the  foot.  The  heel  and  toe  are  either  corked  or  raised 
to  make  a level  with  the  heads  of  the  nails.  Five  or  six  nails  are 
sufficient  to  secure  it.  Particular  care  must  be  taken  by  the  smith  in 
shoeing  that  the  toes  of  the  shoes  do  not  extend  quite  to  the  extremity 
of  the  hoof,  in  which  they  impinge  on  each  other,  and  by  the  motion 
of  the  feet  are  easily  thrust  off.  These  directions  are  given  by  Benja- 
min Coleman,  Esq.  of  Virginia,  and  are  illustrated  by  the  following 
•ketch : 


USE  OF  OXEN. 


145 


For  the  speed  of  an  ox-team  in  the  plough  we  might  rely  on  the 
numerous  certificates  of  committees  for  the  last  twenty  years,  in 
which  our  agricultural  annals  abound,  from  Boston  in  the  north  to 
Baltimore  at  least  going  south.  These  testify  in  innumerable  cases 
to  their  ploughing  five  or  six  inches  deep,  an  eighth  of  an  acre  tho- 
roughly well,  at  the  rate  of  an  acre  in  four  hours.  Making  the  most 
liberal  allowance,  however,  for  the  favourable  circumstances  under 
which  the  work  has  been  done  at  this  rate,  and  it  may  still  be  safely 
assumed  that  a yoke  of  oxen,  well  trained,  will  turn  over  more  than 
an  acre  of  strong  land  in  eight  hours. 

All  that  we  have  contended  for  is  more  than  confirmed  by  the  fol- 
lowing testimony  taken  from  a very  interesting  letter  from  Governor 
Hill,  dated  7th  December,  1843,  on  the  use  of  oxen  in  the  lumbering 
business  in  Maine.  He  says  — “My  own  experience  in  this  matter 
is  quite  recent,  and  of  course  limited.  I have  at  this  time  cattle  of 
my  own  raising,  which,  having  been  taught  to  step  quick , and  having 
worked  in  the  same  team  with  horses,  will  side  by  side  travel  as  fast 
and  plough  as  much  in  a day  as  the  same  number  of  horses.  A pair 
of  these  oxen  will  turn  over  with  a plough  that  carries  twelve  inches 
of  the  last  year’s  corn  or  potatoe  ground,  or  easy  stubble  land,  from 
one  and  a half  to  two  acres  in  a day,  working  eight  hours,  four  in 
the  foren.oon  and  four  in  the  afternoon.  Oxen  well  fed  with  hay  and 
a portion  of  Indian  corn  or  meal,  will  in  the  heat  of  summer  stand  it 
to  work  daily  from  eight  to  ten  hours.” 

At  the  Exhibition  of  the  Maryland  Agricultural  Society  in  1823, 
(quorum  pars  fuC  ■ .n  the  view  of  hundreds  of  spectators,  an  ox-team 
started  in  competition  with  five  horse-teams,  and  was  the  second  in 
completing  an  equal  quantity  of  ground,  and  would  have  been  the 
first  if  the  horse-team  had  cleared  out  the  middle  furrow ; but  sup- 
posing that  when  ready  to  start  the  horse  has  a little  the  advantage 
of  foot,  it  is  to  be  considered  that  for  small  jobs  and  short  bouts  his 
competitor  can  be  more  quickly  hitched  up,  and  the  work  despatched 
by  the  time  the  horse  would  be  geared:  — such  cases  as  we  have 
stated  abound  in  all  the  accounts  of  the  proceedings  of  agricultural 
societies.  A writer  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  Massachusetts  Agricultural 
Society,  speaking  to  a community  who  neither  could  nor  would  be 
deceived  on  a matter  so  well  understood  by,  and  so  deeply  interesting 
to  them,  says  — “ The  principal  argument  of  the  advocates  for  the 
cultivation  by  horses  in  Maryland  seems  to  be  the  superior  speed  of 
the  horse.  Now  this  must  proceed  from  an  imperfect  training  of  the 
cattle.  With  us  our  cattle  will  plough  an  acre  of  ground  much  better , 
and  in  as  short  a time,  as  a pair  of  horses  would  do  it,  unless  they 
can  trot  their  horses  in  the  plough  • s.*  they  will  get  in  a ton  of  hay 
in  as  short  a time.”  Here  we  are  well  persuaded  the  sagacious 
writer  hits  the  nail  on  the  head,  when  he  suggests  that  the  objection 
on  the  score  of  speed  must  arise  from  an  “ imperfect  training  of  the 
cattle .”  He  must  possess  an  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  difference 
Detween  the  habits  of  the  New  England  and  the  Southern  ploughman 
13 


146 


ESSAY  ON  THE 


who  is  not  prepared  to  admit  that  in  nothing  is  that  difference  greatei 
than  in  their  treatment  of  all  their  cattle,  and  more  especially  their 
oxen . In  this  very  difference,  in  fact,  is  to  be  found  the  solution  of 
the  question,  and  this  brings  us  to  the  point  for  making  the  sugges- 
tions we  propose  on  the  breed , gearing,  training , and  general  treat- 
ment of  the  ox. 

As  to  the  breed,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  if  regard  were  had  alone 
tc  the  working  qualities  of  cattle,  a skilful  breeder  might  in  a series 
of  years,  not  very  long,  manufacture  out  of  our  own  country  cattle  a 
race  which  would  be  as  distinguished  for  quickness  of  motion  and 
endurance  as,  by  like  care  and  attention  and  skill,  the  improved  short 
horns  have  been  made,  and  established  for  early  maturity,  symmetry 
and  disposition  to  lay  on  flesh  and  fat  on  the  most  valuable  parts. 
There  is,  however,  in  the  two  cases,  this  obvious  difference  in  the 
system  of  breeding  the  horse  and  ox,  which  is  a matter  of  necessity 
militating  against  the  ox  and  detracting  from  him  on  the  score  of 
action,  leaving  it  even  a subject  of  surprise  that  he  should  be  as  quick 
as  he  is.  While  the  horse,  for  instance,  is  bred  and  cultivated  with 
a view  to  the  possession  and  display  of  a single  quality , either  high- 
bred for  light  harness  or  the  saddle,  or  cold-blooded,  with  weight  to 
be  thrown  into  the  collar,  for  the  plough  or  heavy  loads,  for  the  cart 
or  the  wagon,  true  economy  compels  the  husbandman  as  to  his  cattle, 
to  keep  in  view  and  to  combine , as  far  as  he  can,  several  objects  in 
some  degree  incompatible  with  each  other,  and  with  the  highest  attain- 
able degree  of  excellence  in  any  particular  one  of  them.  Few,  for  in- 
stance, could  afford  to  breed  cattle  with  exclusive  reference  to  the  pail , 
the  yoke , or  the  shambles ! For  either  of  these  objects  a different  breed 
would  be  taken,  while,  under  all  circumstances,  for  all  these  purposes 
combined,  we  should  pronounce  in  favour  of  the  North  Devon.  It  is 
from  this  stock  that  the  famous  New  England  oxen  are  descended.  Be- 
ing of  moderate  size,  and  active  and  thrifty,  they  are  adapted  to  a wider 
range  of  country;  and  being  in  itself  an  unmixed  distinct  natural 
breed,  if  we  may  say  so,  it  transmits  and  preserves  its  peculiar  quali- 
ties with  remarkable  uniformity  as  to  shape,  size,  colour,  temper  and 
action;  and  without  demanding,  in  order  to  keep  them  up  to  the 
mark,  that  practised  skill  and  extraordinary  care  in  the  selection  of 
the  breeding  stock  which  has  been  for  many  years  exercised  in  the 
formation  of  some  other  artificial  breeds,  choosing  for  that  purpose 
individuals  in  every  case  most  free  from  the  defects,  and  possessing 
the  greatest  number  of  the  points  which  it  may  be  the  object  of  the 
breeder  to  establish. 

In  a correspondence  between  Dr.  Mease  of  Philadelphia  and  some 
English  stock-breeders  of  celebrity,  one  of  them,  Mr.  Chandler,  who 
had  repeatedly  gained  prizes  at  Sinithfield  for  the  cattle  he  had  raised 
or  exhibited,  says  in  his  answer  to  certain  inquiries — “ Not  being  an 
advocate  for  very  large  animals  or  for  feeding  to  an  excess,  I have 
endeavoured  from  experience  to  make  use  of  that  description  of 
animals  which  pay  best  for  the  food  they  eat , and  are  the  readiest  sale 


USE  OF  OXEN. 


147 


when  fit  for  market.  I have  in  consequence  used  the  North  Deions. 
They  are  the  best  breed  that  I am  acquainted  with  for  the  united 
purposes  of  labour  and  feeding,  being  very  active,  fast  walkers,  quick 
feeders,  of  a very  good  quality  when  slaughtered,  and  of  a size  now 
very  generally  preferred  in  our  markets  to  the  very  large  beasts,  being 
from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  stone  of  eight  pounds. 
They  are  worked  in  yokes  from  four  to  six  to  a plough,  and  plough 
upwards  of  an  acre  per  day  ,•  indeed  they  work  harder  than  any  other 
oxen  in  this  country,  for  Devonshire  is  a very  hilly  country.  The 
Devonshire  cows  are  not  of  a large  size,  but  very  handsome  forms, 
quick  feeders,  and  give  milk  of  a very  rich  quality.  I should  suppose 
that  a yearling  bull  would  not  be  procured  in  either  Devon  or  Here- 
ford, from  the  first  breeds,  for  less  than  one  hundred  guineas.” 

It  is  stated  in  the  communications  to  the  Board  of  Agriculture  in 
England,  vol.  iv.,  that  ten  North  Devon  cows  of  Mr.  Congon  pro- 
duced on  an  average  five  dozen  pounds  of  butter  per  week  in  summer, 
and  two  dozen  in  the  winter;  or,  in  other  words,  two  hundred  and 
sixty-eight  pounds  per  cow.  His  thirty  cows  averaged  an  annual 
profit  of  £13,  14s.  8c?.,  or  $60.52  per  head. 

Another  fact  which  weighs  heavily  in  favour  of  the  ox  is,  that  his 
size  is  not  diminished  by  labour;  a consideration  dwelt  upon  with 
emphasis  by  the  late  John  Lowell  of  Massachusetts,  eminent  alike 
for  his  knowledge  and  for  his  public-spirited  use  of  it.  In  a report 
in  1825,  he  remarks  — “There  was  another  very  interesting  fact  dis- 
closed on  this  examination.  There  were  three  fine  five  year  old  steers 
of  Joseph  Eastb rooks,  two  of  which  had  been  worked  hard  from  the 
age  of  three,  and  the  third  had  never  had  a yoke  around  his  neck. 
The  judges,  and  better  judges  there  could  scarcely  be  than  my  asso- 
ciates, could  perceive  no  sensible  difference  in  the  value  of  the  worked 
and  unworked  cattle  of  the  same  age,  owned  by  the  same  man ; and 
with  the  same  treatment  and  food,  the  unworked  oxen  often  were  in 
no  degree  superior  to  those  which  had  been  submitted  to  labour. 
Great  Britain  might  learn  a lesson  from  this  example  if  her  farmers 
could  have  been  present.” 

Were  it  admitted,  as  perhaps  it  should  be,  that  an  ox  will  consume 
more  hay  or  long  provendei  than  a horse,  it  must  also  be  conceded 
that  the  horse  refuses  much  that  will  well  sustain  the  ox  — and  the 
objection  can  at  any  rate  only  apply  in  all  its  force  where  the  owner 
is  near  enough  to  market  to  send  his  hay  for  sale.  Now  as  the  grain- 
crop  is  more  condensed  in  proportion  to  value,  and  admits  of  much 
easier  transportation  to  market,  the  horse  being  the  consumer,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Stabler’s  calculation,  of  ninety  bushels  more  of  grain,  is 
in  that  view  and  in  that  proportion  the  more  expensive  animal  of  the 
two.  In  a national  point  of  view  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  he  con- 
sumes too  the  very  staple  which  goes  most  efficiently  to  increase  and 
sustain  the  population  and  strength  of  a country;  very  few,  perhaps, 
have  reflected  on  the  number  of  people  who  may  be  kept  on  the  food 
of  one  horse.  For  example,  the  usual  allowance  for  a slave  is  a peck 


ESSAY  ON  THE 


14R 

of  corn-meal  and  three  and  a half  pounds  of  meat  for  a week,  besides 
salt  fish' and  vegetables;  not  enough,  supposing  the  meat  to  be  con 
verted  into  hay,  to  keep  the  horse  he  drives  for  a single  day. 

Another  view  which  must  not  be  overlooked  is,  that  the  ox  makes 
much  more  and  belter  manure  than  the  horse.  He  is,  in  fact,  a much 
better  machine  for  grinding  down  by  his  ruminating  process  into 
manure,  all  the  provender  which  cannot  be  taken  for  sale  from  the 
farm.  It  is  in  few  cases  economical,  often  not  even  with  hogs,  tD 
consume  the  grain  on  the  farm ; and  of  all  things  that  eat  it,  not 
excepting  poultry  and  pigeons,  the  horse  is  the  most  expensive,  as 
he  gives  it  back  in  no  way  but  by  his  labour,  and  therefore  is  the  las', 
animal  that  should  be  kept  when  it  can  be  avoided. 

We  proceed  to  the  practical  suggestions  which  it  is  believed  will 
be  useful  to  those  who  may  feel  persuaded  to  adopt  our  recommend- 
ations. 

Breaking.  — The  sooner  this  is  commenced,  the  more  complete 
will  be  the  command  of  the  teamster.  It  would  be  well,  if  conve- 
nient, to  have  them  named  and  haltered,  and  taught  to  stand  and  to 
start,  to  “ gee”  and  to  “ haw,”  when  not  more  than  a year  old,  and 
slightly  worked  in  the  summer  and  autumn  after  they  are  two.  Gee 
and  haw  are  the  terms  used  in  most  parts  of  the  country.  The  first 
indicates  that  the  yoke  is  to  incline  off  to  the  right,  or  from  the  near 
side  on  which  the  driver  should  always  take  his  stand.  The  yoke, 
however,  should  not  be  put  on  their  necks  until  they  are  to  be  work- 
ed, as  they  might  acquire  a habit  of  running  off  in  it,  which  it  will 
be  found  very  difficult  to  correct. 

The  directions  which  follow  are  taken  principally  from  practice 
observations  by  T.  P.  Stabler,  of  Montgomery  county,  who  has  per- 
formed in  Maryland  all  the  requisite  labour  on  a farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  with  but  one  horse  in  addition  to  his  oxen,  and  of 
Mr.  Gilman,  then  of  Alexandria.  “ The  proper  time,”  says  Mr.  Sta- 
bler, “for  putting  them  to  work,  is  at  three  years  old;  and  such  as 
have  not  been  handled,  as  above  recommended,  while  growing,  should 
be  driven  round  the  field  for  a day  or  two,  before  being  yoked,  so  as 
to  tire  them.”  The  propriety  of  this  is  proved  by  the  greater  ease 
with  which  they  are  broken,  when  taken  and  yoked  directly  out 
of  a drove,  before  they  have  time  to  recruit  from  the  fatigue  of  tra- 
velling. Instead,  then,  of  being  yoked  two  together,  they  should  be 
tied  by  the  horns  (with  a rope  slipped  over  and  resting  on  the  top  of 
the  head)  to  the  side  of  a house,  taking  care  that  there  be  no  place 
for  the  horns  to  become  entangled,  and  stand  tied  in  this  manner  till 
they  cease  to  pull  by  the  cord,  which  will  in  most  cases  be  in  a day 
or  two.  They  may  then  be  led  very  readily,  and  taught  to  turn,  stop, 
nr  start,  singly,  just  as  a colt  may  be,  instead  of  coupling  two  toge- 
ther at  first,  which  any  man  in  the  care  of  horses  would  condemn,  as 
being  most  likely  to  end  in  the  destruction  of  one  or  both,  whbh  has 
not  unfrequently  happened  with  young  steers  when  forcibly  yoked 
together  in  the  firs*  instance 


USE  OF  OXEN  . 


1 4£> 

“When  two  young  cattle,”  says  Mr.  Stabler,  ••  are  yoked  and 
turned  loose  with  their  tails  tied  together  to  run  and  plunge  about, 
they  are  almost  certain  to  acquire  a habit  of  running  away  ; and  even 
should  this  not  be  the  case,  one,  and  sometimes  both,  lose  a part  of 
their  tail  in  these  violent  exertions.  When  they  are  sufficiently 
broken  to  the  halter,  they  may  be  placed  side  by  side,  for  the  purpose 
of  receiving  the  yoke,  having  reference  to  their  relative  size,  strength, 
and  mastership ; because,  if  one  is  stronger  and  more  free  than  the 
other,  he  should  be  placed  on  the  off-side  that  the  team  may  rather 
incline  to,  than  from  the  driver.” 

If  one  should  be  larger  than  the  other,  he  will  be  likely  to  be 
stronger  and  more  free ; and,  should  they  be  put  to  the  plough,  the 
furrow  ox  being  the  larger,  the  yoke  will  be  kept  nearer  a level  than 
in  the  other  case.  It  requires  but  little  observation  to  see  that  they 
are  easier  to  be  turned  to  the  right,  or  made  to  “ gee,”  than  to  the  left, 
or  to  “haw,”  or  “ come  hither;”  therefore,  if  the  master-ox  be  on  the 
off-side,  he  will  assist  in  controlling  the  near  or  left  one  in  “ coming 
round ;”  but  when  reversed,  and  the  master-ox  on  the  near  side,  and 
he  not  altogether  willing  to  “come  here,”  the  team  is  some  time 
stationary  ; for  let  the  then  off-ox  be  ever  so  willing  to  obey  the  voice 
of  the  driver,  the  horn  of  the  near  one  speaks  a contrary  language, 
equally  intelligible.  After  the  yoke  is  put  on  securely,  their  tails 
should  be  well  tied  together,  and  they  suffered  to  stand  tied  as  before 
until  a strong  pen  is  built  round  them,  not  more  than  sixteen  o' 
eighteen  feet  in  diameter,  taking  care  that  the  ends  of  the  rails  do  no 
extend  inwardly.  The  ropes  should  then  be  loosed,  if  possible,  in 
such  a way  that  they  will  not  be  sensible  of  it.  Here  they  will  soon 
learn  to  turn  themselves  about,  without  one  violent  exertion,  or  the 
least  fright.  They  should  be  tied  up  as  before,  at  night,  their  tails 
untied,  and  the  yoke  removed,  to  be  replaced  in  the  morning  as  be- 
fore ; and  the  day  following  they  may  he  led  or  driven  in  a larger 
space.  By  this  time  the  cause  will  be  gained  in  a manner  calculated 
to  insure  a prime  pair  of  cattle.  They  may  now  be  attached  to  some- 
thing light,  and  led  about  for  a few  hours,  daily  and  gradually  in- 
creasing the  draft,  and  greasing  their  necks  occasionally,  to  prevent 
galling.  When  put  to  the  cart  or  harrow  with  others  already 
broken,  contrary  to  the  usual  practice , they  should  be  placed  before 
instead  of  behind  them ; by  which  arrangement  it  will  be  found  that 
if  frightened  the  old  cattle  will  not  let  them  run ; but,  if  otherwise, 
they,  by  running  against  the  older  ones,  may  frighten  them  also. 

In  Kentucky  they  practise  another  mode  of  breaking  steers,  which 
is  thus  described  : — Where  the  establishment  is  a large  one,  and 
there  are  some  to  be  broken  in,  every  year,  the  fixture  and  practice 
here  recommended  would  seem  to  be  eligible  and  judicious — “ Get  a 
strong  post  eight  feet  long  by  two  thick ; plant  it  three  and  a half 
feet  in  the  ground,  well  rammed  ; round  or  level  the  top  of  the  post, 
and  leave  a pin  to  it,  or  make  a mortice  and  insert  a strong  two-inch 
pin  of  tough  v\  ood  in  it,  perpendicularly  at  the  top,  six  or  eight  indies 


f 50 


ESSAY  ON  THE 


long.  Then  get  a tough  sapling,  twenty-five  feet  long;  measure  off 
at  the  small  end  of  it  the  usual  length  of  a yoke,  and  bore  the  holes 
for  your  bows.  Then  bore  three  holes,  or  more  if  you  choose,  four, 
eight,  and  twelve  feet  from  the  other  end  of  the  sapling,  of  the  size 
of  the  pin  in  the  top  of  the  post,  giving  the  shortest  lever  first,  draw 
your  steers  up,  let  them  be  young  or  old,  gentle  or  wild,  it  makes  no 
difference;  yoke  them  to  the  end  of  the  pole;  but  instead  of  tying 
their  tails  together,  if  you  wish  to  avoid  bob-tailed  oxen,  tie  their 
ioins  together  with  a good  rope,  wrap  up  their  head  halters,  clear  the 
front,  and  let  them  go ; round  and  round  they  will  go  with  a rush; 
drunk  — drunker  still  they  grow,  until  groaning,  down  they  drop. 
For  a while  they  lie  panting  and  looking  wild  ; at  length  they  leap 
as  if  suddenly  frightened,  rush  round  and  round  again,  grow  drunk 
and  drop  again.  Leave  them,  they  will  repeat  the  experiment,  until 
reeling,  they  will  stop  or  stand.  In  a few  hours  you  may  lead  them 
around  by  their  halters.  Uncouple  them  from  the  pole,  or  yoke  them 
to  your  cart,  and  drive  them  where  you  please  with  safety.  The 
preceding  method  is  recommended  with  confidence  from  personal 
knowledge  by  Mr.  William  P.  Hart,  of  Kentucky. 

There  is  no  point  in  the  comparison  between  oxen  and  horses  which 
more  strongly  illustrates  the  economy  of  ox-power  than  the  difference 
in  the  expense  of  gearing. 

For  each  horse  employed  on  public  roads,  where  it  is  in  constant 
use,  the  harness  costs,  according  to  the  best  information,  as  has  been 
seen,  twenty  dollars ; being  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  for  a 
team  of  six,  leaving  the  swingle  or  whiffle-trees,  as  they  constitute  a 
part  of  the  wagon,  out  of  the  question ; and  this  harness  is  not  ex- 
pected to  last  more  than  six  years ; while  for  six  oxen,  the  wholo 
gearing,  consisting  of  three  yokes  and  two  chains,  would  not  cost 
more  than  twenty  dollars,  and  would  probably  last  twenty  years. 

A singular  method  of  accustoming  young  animals  to  draw  is  prac- 
tised in  France ; and,  although  it  must  be  admitted  that  few  nations 
have  been  more  the  slaves  of  routine  and  of  old  habits,  or  slower  in 
the  progress  of  improvement  in  agricultural  implements,  yet  the 
system  they  pursue  in  this  instance,  as  here  illustrated,  looks  and 
reads  so  plausibly  as  to  appear  worthy  of  trial,  and  to  bespeak  confi- 
dence in  its  efficacy.  It  is  well  known  that  nothing  is  more  humbling 
to  the  wildest  and  most  indomitable  animal  than  the  sufferings  of 
extreme  hunger ,*  and  among  the  French,  in  the  very  act  of  satisfying 
its  cravings,  they  habituate  young  animals  to  the  yoke  and  harness. 
For  this  purpose  they  attach  them  to  the  manger  by  means  of  a cord 
which  runs  through  a ring,  at  the  extremity  of  which  a weight  is  at- 
tached, as  represented  at  A,  in  the  annexed  Plate,  so  that  the  animal 
may,  at  pleasure,  approach  or  recede  from  the  manger.  A collar  is 
put  on  the  animal  with  two  cords  fixed  to  a bar  or  swingle-tree,  to 
vhich  another  cord  is  attached  at  B,  which  passes  through  the  pulley 
a L C,  and  to  which  is  suspended  a weight  as  at  D,  to  be  increased  or 
diminished  at  pleasure.  Things  being  thus  arranged,  ft  dder  is  put 


USE  OF  OXEN. 


151 


in  the  racK.  The  animal,  when  pressed  with  hunger,  approaches  his 
tood,  in  doing  which  he  raises  the  weight,  and  keeps  it  suspended  as 
long  as  he  continues  to  eat,  and  thus  contracts  the  habit  of  drawing 
in  a few  days.  He  is  free  to  relax  his  exertions,  for  whenever  he 
recedes,  the  weight  reposes  on  the  ground. 

“ In  many  respects,”  says  Mr.  Gilman,  “ proud  man  must  look  up  to 
the  beast  as  his  superior:  man’s  reason  is  replete  with  error;  but  in- 
stinct, or  the  inference  drawn  by  a brute,  from  certain  sounds  and  mo- 
tions, after  having  once  learned  their  purport,  is  infallible.  I have  seen 
the  best  drilled  soldier  mistake,  for  the  instant,  advance  arms  for  recover 
arms,  but  never  saw  a well-trained  ox  mistake  gee  for  haw,  or  haw 
for  gee : hence,  system  is  indispensable  in  the  management  of  work- 
ing cattle.  He  who  would  work  them  with  ease  and  facility,  should 
maintain  a strict  uniformity  in  his  conduct  towards  them.  They  must 
have  names ; therefore,  calves  intended  to  be  raised  for  working 
should  be  named  while  young,  to  which  they  become  familiar  by  the 
time  they  are  ready  for  the  yoke.  Anything  appropriate  to  their 
colour,  shape,  &c.,  is  proper;  such  as  bright,  broad,  line,  spark,  back, 
star,  turk,  golden,  &c.” 

“ The  buffaloe  breed  of  cattle,  or  those  without  horns,  will  not  an- 
swer well  for  working,  as  horns  are  necessary  in  backing  a cart,  and 
in  carrying  it  down  hill.  This  may  be  obviated  by  having  a plain 
harness  with  breeching  fastened  to  the  yoke  of  the  oxen  to  the 
tongue,  as  is  the  practice  in  Pennsylvania.  Oxen  should  never  be 
changed  in  the  yoke  after  having  been  broke ; the  near  and  off-ox 
should  always  remain  as  such  ; by  changing  them,  they  become  con- 
fused, and  all  the  benefit  of  their  tuition  is  lost.” 

“ A temporary  change,  however,  can  be  made  in  one  instance  to  ad- 
vantage ; this  is  when  they  hang  off  from  each  other,  as  they  are  apt 
to  do  in  bad  travelling,  when  they  get  fretted;  they  then  cut  each 
ether’s  feet  with  their  shoes;  shifting  them  puts  this  out  of  their  head 
for  that  time.” 

“ There  are,  however,  several  ways  in  which  oxen  may  be  geared 
for  work ; they  are  willing  to  earn  their  bread  any  way ; they  have 
been  tried  and  found  to  pull  by  a yoke  on  the  neck,  by  a shaft  lashed 
across  the  forehead,  and  traces  to  its  ends;  by  traces  fastened  to  the 
horns;  by  harness  like  horses;  and  they  will  pull  by  the  tail.  From 
these  various  modes,  it  is  the  husbandman’s  duty  first  to  study  the 
nature  and  convenience  of  the  ox:  secondly,  economy  and  his  own 
convenience,  and  then  select  that  which  embraces  most  of  these  de 
sirable  objects.” 

“ There  are  but  two  of  these  modes  mentioned  that  can  be  adopted 
with  any  degree  of  satisfaction  or  success ; these  are  the  yoke  and 
the  harness.  From  the  former  being  in  general,  not  to  say  universal 
use,  the  inference  is  a natural  one,  that  some  inconvenience  must  at- 
tend the  latter.  The  form  of  the  ox  is  one  objection  to  harness ; his 
Delly  is  so  much  wider  than  his  shoulders,  it  is  embraced  so  hard  by 
the  iron  traces  as  to  impede  his  wind,  as  well  as  to  be  injured  bj 


i52 


ESSA  ION  THE 


galling.  The  yoke,  on  the  other  hand,  being  of  hard  wood,  appears 
to  be  an  instrument  that  would  gall,  but  I never  knew  any  injury 
done  by  it.  The  neck  of  the  bullock  seems  by  nature  fitted  for  the 
yoke ; the  skin,  naturally  thick,  soon  becomes  so  callous  as  not  to  be 
hurt  by  friction ; it  is  there  his  strength  lies,  even  to  a proverb. 

Jn  point  of  economy,  there  is  a wide  disparity  between  the  harness 
and  yoke ; the  expense  of  the  former  to  that  of  the  latter,  for  eight 
years’  wear,  would  be  as  ten  to  one,  and  the  time  of  gearing  a$d  un- 
gearing is  as  three  to  one ; in  other  words,  a yoke  will  cost  only  five 
dollars,  which  will  average  eight  years’  wear,  and  can  be  put  to  oxen 
in  two  minutes. 

A yoke  which  is  properly  made  for  oxen  of  equal  size  and  strength 
will  have  no  particular  end  for  the  near  or  off-ox ; but  the  bows  being 
sometimes  untrue,  will  fit  to  the  neck  better  one  particular  way.  This 
the  nice  teamster  will  observe,  and  always  put  them  so.  An  ox  can 
feel  as  sensibly  as  a man  the  pains  of  tight  or  unfitting  accoutre- 
ments ; but  not  being  so  fluently  gifted,  and  being  too  noble  and 
patient  to  shrink  on  that  account  from  his  task,  it  particularly  be- 
hooves every  driver  (who  cannot  all  day  wear  a key  or  penknife  in 
the  foot  of  his  boot)  to  be  vigilant  that  the  tackle  sits  easy  and  free 
on  his  team. 

When  oxen  are  unequally  matched  as  to  strength,  the  strongest  is 
apt  to  carry  his  end  of  the  yoke  several  inches  before  the  other ; this 
makes  the  yoke  uneasy  to  them,  and  is  soon  remedied  by  putting  the 
staple  of  the  yoke  nearest  to  the  end  of  the  strong  ox.  It  does  not. 
however,  always  follow  that  the  stronger  ox  carries  the  fore  end  ol 
the  yoke.  It  often  occurs  that  an  inequality  of  strength  begets  such 
ambition  in  the  weaker  ox  as  will  ruin  him  by  his  overstraining  him- 
self for  an  even  yoke.  The  driver  should  be  attentive  to  this  circum- 
stance (if  it  ever  occurs  with  him),  and  remedy  it,  as  has  been  just 
pointed  out. 

It  is  unnecessary,  in  yoking  well-tutored  oxen,  to  lug  the  yoke 
round  the  yard  after  them,  as  they  are  easily  called  to  that.  I have 
often  called  the  ox  I wanted  from  a drove  of  all  sorts  of  cattle.  Stand 
the  yoke  on  one  end;  take  out  the  off-ox’s  bow;  steady  the  yoke 
with  the  left  hand,  and  with  the  right  hold  up  the  bow  towards  the 
ox,  and  beckoning  with  it,  call  him  by  name  to  you ; slip  the  bow 
under  his  neck;  turn  the  yoke  down  upon  it;  enter  it  in  the  bow- 
holes,  and  put  in  the  bow-pin;  then  take  out  the  other  bow,  and 
lifting  up  the  near  end  of  the  yoke  with  the  left  hand,  with  the  bow 
in  the  right  call  the  near-ox  also  by  name,  who  will  come  and  44  bow 
his  neck  to  the  yoke,”  and  is  harnessed  the  same  as  his  companion. 

An  ox-goad  to  drive  with  is  made  of  hickory,  or  any  tough  wood, 
three  and  a half  to  four  and  a half  feet  long,  as  may  suit  the  whin) 
of  the  driver,  about  the  size  of  a man’s  finger,  with  a prick  or  sharp 
point  of  iron  in  the  end,  projecting  not  more  than  a quarter  of  an 
inch.  This  is  more  cheap  and  simple,  and  has  been  found  to  answci 
much  better  than  a whip,  or  a long  green  withe.  The  ludicrous 


USE  OF  OXEtf. 


15a 

practice  of  using  the  latter,  and  of  having  a driver  on  both  sides  of 
the  team  to  keep  them  straight,  or  of  fastening  a rope  to  the  horn  of 
the  near-ox  for  the  same  purpose,  cannot  be  too  soon  exploded. 
Riding  on  oxen  is  a shameful  lazy  practice,  that  should  also  be  done 
away  with.  Oxen  may,  and  ought  to  be  so  taught,  that  by  speaking 
to  them  and  making  a kind  of  beckoning  motion  with  the  goad,  they 
will  come  to ; or,  in  other  words,  turn  to  the  left  without  the  trouble 
of  an  assistant  on  the  off-side,  or  a rope  to  pull  them  round. 

I would  have  one  thing  remembered  in  driving  oxen,  (which  also 
applies  to  every  species  of  servants),  I mean  the  impolitic  habit  of  a 
uniform  harsh  deportment,  and  of  keeping  the  goad  constantly  going 
over  them ; it  is  a needless  tax  upon  the  lungs  and  sinews;  the  oxen 
will  not  do  so  much  work  for  it ; and,  what  is  worse,  they  become  so 
callous  from  this  perpetual  rough  discipline,  that  they  cannot  easily 
be  brought  to  any  extra  exertion  when  it  is  indeed  necessary. 

The  benefit  of  a calm  management  has  been  very  apparent  to  me 
when  I have  been  driving  in  company  with  these  peevish  geniuses ; 
and  coming  to  a steep  hill,  I would  then  speak  sharp  and  determined 
to  my  team,  and  ply  the  goad  pretty  freely,  if  necessary.  This  treat- 
ment, so  novel,  would  be  fully  appreciated  ; every  one  of  them  would 
pull  as  for  his  life,  and  the  hill  would  be  quickly  surmounted ; while 
the  driver  who  has  always  been  speaking  harshly,  and  always  been 
plying  his  goad,  could  not  here  make  use  of  any  new  argument  to 
stimulate  his  cattle  to  the  exigence  of  the  moment.  The  consequence 
was,  he  would  often  have  to  receive  assistance  from  a team  no  stronger 
than  his  own.  Drivers  should  acquaint  themselves  with  the  burthen 
of  their  oxen,  and  never  load  them  beyond  it ; it  discourages  and 
hurts  them. 

Because  they  are  very  strong,  many  unthinking  taskmasters  appear 
to  believe  them  omnipotent.  When  they  are  properly  taken  care  of, 
they  are  not  apt  to  be  sparing  of  their  strength ; they  are  sometimes 
profuse  with  it. 

I have  often  been  beset  with  difficulties  when  at  work  alone  in  the 
woods  with  a yoke  or  two  of  oxen,  and  have  then  thought  I could 
perceive  traits  of  reason  in  them ; for,  in  proportion  to  my  anxiety 
and  exertions  to  extricate  myself,  have  I seen  their’s  spontaneously 
to  increase. 

That  all  cattle  should  be  sheltered  in  cold  and  wet  weather,  is  ob- 
vious to  every  person ; but  to  those  that  work,  it  is  indispensable; 
their  health  and  strength  depend  upon  it. 

From  the  severity  and  duration  of  our  winters  at  the  northward, 
our  barns  are  generally  spacious,  and  calculated  to  hold  as  much  as 
possible  of  our  grain  and  hay.  No  doubt,  however,  but  this  is  good 
economy  in  every  climate  in  the  United  States;  as  the  farmer  loses 
as  much  in  quantity  and  quality  of  his  produce  in  a short  time,  by 
stacking  out,  as  would  build  a barn. 

Our  old-fashioned  barns,  I believe,  are  not  susceptible  of  much  im- 
provement. Those  which  cattle  are  wintered  in  are  built  a small 
11 


154 


ESSAY  ON  THE 


distance  fnm  the  house  on  a rising  ground,  with  a yard  opened  lo, 
and  descending  a little  towards  the  south,  if  such  a spot  be  near;  it 
being  thereby  warmer,  kept  cleaner,  and  the  wash  enriches  the  adja- 
cent ground.  The  barn  has  two  large  doors  opposite  each  other  foi 
the  convenience  of  driving  loads  of  grain  and  hay;  on  one  or  both 
sides  of  this  thoroughfare  is  a stall  for  cattle,  say  ten  feet  wide  anc 
six  and  a half  high,  and  running  the  whole  width  of  the  barn ; so 
that  if  a barn  were  forty  feet  long,  the  stalls  would  take  up  ten  feet 
on  each  end,  and  twenty  would  of  course  be  the  width  of  the  tho- 
roughfare; which  latter  being  also  used  as  the  threshing-floor,  is 
floored  with  twro-inch  plank,  well  joined. 

The  partition  between  this  and  the  stalls  is  only  three  feet  high, 
for  the  convenience  of  feeding  cattJe,  whose  crib  joins  the  partition, 
and  is  thus  made  : — A piece  of  timber,  the  length  of  the  stall,  aboul 
four  inches  thick  by  eight  wide,  is  laid  down  on  edge,  parallel  with 
the  partition,  and  two  and  a half  feet  from  it;  this  makes  a crib  on 
the  floor,  being  the  most  natural  one  that  cattle  can  have  to  feed  at. 
It  is  perfectly  clean,  as  the  stall-floors  have  a gradual  descent  of  about 
hree  inches.  Immediately  over  this  timber  is  another  smaller  one 
of  the  same  length,  fixed  to  the  joist  above;  in  both  of  these  timbers 
from  end  to  end  holes  are  bored  at  three  feet  distance,  and  smooth 
round  stations  or  studs,  three  inches  in  diameter,  are  fixed  therein ; 
round  each  of  these  stations  is  bent  a small  hickory  hank  or  hook, 
sufficiently  loose  to  play  up  and  down  thereon  ; a wooden  bow  passing 
through  this  hoop,  embraces  the  neck  of  the  ox,  who  is  thereby  kept 
at  his  post,  yet  still  has  every  rational  liberty.  He  has  room  to  eat  his 
food,  lay  down,  or  stand  at  his  pleasure.  (See  drawings  on  page  164.) 
These  stalls  have  small  windows,  four  feet  from  the  floor,  and  a con- 
venient distance  from  each  other,  through  which  to  throw  the  manure. 
Satisfactory  experience  of  the  safety  and  economy  of  this  made  of 
housing  cattle  has  made  it  universal  in  that  quarter. 

On  tying  up  cattle  for  the  night,  respect  should  be  had  to  mastery 
among  them;  the  strongest  should  be  put  in  first,  and  at  the  further 
end  from  the  door,  and  so  on,  according  as  they  hold  dominion  over 
each  other,  leaving  the  cows,  yearlings,  &c.,  next  the  door,  in  case 
of  civil  war  among  them. 

It  is  interesting  when  “ the  curfew  tolls  the  knell  of  parting  day,” 
and  the  farmer’s  boy  opens  his  stall-door  and  gives  a nod  of  invitation 
to  his  “leading  characters,”  to  see  them  forming  a line  of  march, 
entering  the  door,  and  taking  their  places  precisely  according  to  rank, 
without  martial  music,  word  of  command,  or  confusion. 

The  thorough-bred  teamster  never  suffers  himself  to  partake  of  his 
repast  before  his  oxen  have  begun  theirs.  They  require  little  else  in 
winter  but  good  wholesome  hay  and  water ; but  when  sufficient  time 
cannot  well  be  allowed  them  to  dine  on  hay,  then  corn  in  the  ear  is 
the  best  thing  that  can  be  given  them.  Pumpkins  are  also  very  grate- 
ful to  them,  and  being  remarkably  prolific,  may  be  raised  with  little 
trouble.  In  winter,  cattle  are  tied  up  and  fed  at  about  sunset;  fed 


2. 


USE  OF  OXEN. 


155 


again  at  eigl  t o’clock;  again  at  daylight;  then  at  sunrise  they  ara 
ready  for  the  labours  of  the  day.  This  mode  of  feeding  is  considered 
preferable,  being  fresher  in  small  quantities,  eaten  more  freely,  and 
less  liable  to  get  under  their  feet,  and  be  wasted. 

Carts  being  cheaper  than  wagons,  and  handier  about  the  ordinary 
business  of  a farm,  are  therefore  to  be  desired.  Different  kinds  of 
bodies  may  be  attached  occasionally  to  one  pair  of  wheels ; an  open 
one  for  hay,  sheaves,  &c.,  and  a close  one  for  fruit  and  vegetables. 
The  naked  wheels  are  handy  to  haul  spars,  poles,  and  all  kinds  of 
long  timber  on.  In  hitching  a cart  to  the  oxen,  the  tongue  or  spire 
thereof  passes  into  the  ring  of  the  ox-yoke,  as  far  as  the  shoulder  in 
the  tongue  will  permit ; an  iron  instrument  called  a copes  pin,  resem- 
bling the  capital  letter  U,  is  put  on  the  end  of  the  tongue,  embracing 
it  above  and  below,  and  the  copes  pin  is  inserted  through  the  end  of 
the  tongue  and  through  the  copes.  This  copes  is  for  the  purpose  of 
hitching  the  second  yoke  of  oxen  to,  when  necessary.  (See  drawing 
on  page  164.) 

Wherever  oxen  and  yokes  are  used,  chains  become  indispensable ; 
four  of  these,  each  ten  feet  long,  with  a hook  in  each  end,  or  part  cf 
them  with  a ring  in  one  end  and  a hook  at  the  other,  are  enough  fo* 
two  or  three  yokes  of  oxen. 

The  drawings  opposite  are  necessary  for  a better  understanding  of 
what  has  been  said. 

Fig.  1 represents  a cart-tongue  hitched  to  a yoke,  as  in  the  act  of 
drawing ; a is  the  copes  pin,  which  goes  through  the  tongue,  and  by 
which  the  yoke  draws ; b is  the  copes  by  which  the  second  pair  is 
hitched,  when  necessary. 

Fig.  2,  a stanchion  and  bows,  by  which  cattle  are  secured  at  their 
crib ; a,  the  cap  lies  flat  on  top  of  their  neck ; the  end  of  the  bow  at 
b is  sometimes  like  a button,  and  is  put  in  the  hole  at  c,  and  springs 
into  its  place. 

At  Fig.  3 is  the  model  of  a yoke  for  a middling  sized  pair  of  oxen. 
Whole  length,  three  and  a half  feet ; distance  of  bow-holes,  a to  c, 
twenty  inches ; from  b to  6,  in  the  clear,  six  and  a half  inches.  The 
bows  being  something  of  an  oval  form,  and  c to  c being  the  greatest 
swell,  and  where  the  ox’s  shoulders  come,  the  staple  e should  be  in 
a direct  line  between,  so  that  the  strain  will  come  right,  in  drawing: 
d d may  be  flat  keys  or  round  pins  of  wood  ; one  in  each  bow  is  suffi- 
cient. The  stuff  of  which  the  bows  are  made  must  be  at  least  one 
and  a half  inches  in  diameter. 

There  is  no  good  reason  why  the  ox  should  not  be  worked  singly ; 
so  might  cows  when  not  at  the  pail  very  well  do  the  single  ploughing, 
and  haul  light  loads  in  carts;  and  it  would  be  yet  more  economica 
and  expedient  to  spay  and  work  heifers  under  certain  circumstances. 
In  Spain  and  France  it  is  a common  practice.  Every  judicious  farmer 
will  endeavour  to  get  all  possible  remuneration  for  the  certain  expense 
attendant  upon  the  keeping  cf  everything  that  consumes  the  produce  of 
land.  Even  the  dog  that  eats  what  would  keep  a pig,  besides  guard 


156 


ESSAY  ON  THE 


ing  his  house,  protecting  his  fields,  and  finding  his  game,  is  made  by 
the  calculating  New  England  man  to  churn  his  butter . 

It  is  observed  that  less  food  is  necessary  for  spayed  heifers  to  keep 
and  fatten  them  than  is  required  for  the  ox ; and  Mr.  Marshall,  in 
his  rural  economy  of  Yorkshire,  remarks,  that  it  is  a fact  well  esta- 
blished in  the  practice  of  that  district,  that  they  work  better,  and  have 
better  wind  than  oxen. 

It  is  a common  thing  to  see  a single  ox  in  a cart  at  Norfolk  in 
Virginia,  among  a people  as  little  as  any  other  observant  of  improve- 
ments going  or  in  agricultural  machinery.  That  whole  States,  even 
where  oxen  are  used,  should  forego  the  use  of  single  oxen,  serves  tc 
show  how  proverbially  slow  is  the  change  of  habits  among  agricultu 
rists.  Large  bulls  of  immense  strength  are  often  kept  and  fed  through 
the  entire  year,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  their  services  for  eight  or  ten 
cows,  when  they  might  haul  immense  quantities  of  wood  and  manura 
in  vehicles  adapted  to  the  purpose. 

For  an  ox  working  singly,  some  recommend  a single  harness  witt 
the  collar  reversed  ; but  for  the  reasons  he  gives,  and  which  are  ob- 
vious, the  single  yoke  recommended  by  Mr.  Stabler,  and  here  exhi- 
bited, is  greatly  to  be  preferred.  When  the  collar  is  used,  and  the 
draught  heavy,  the  pressure  of  the  traces  on  the  sides  is  obviated  by 
the  yoke.  The  length  for  a single  yoke  must  be  proportioned  to  the 
thickness  of  the  animal,  so  that  the  traces  will  be  as  far  apart  when 
fastened  to  a small  hook  on  the  under  side  of  each  end  as  is  required 
to  prevent  his  sides  from  being  chafed.  The  following  will  *how  the 
proper  shape  of  the  single  yoke : — 


It  will  be  observed  that  by  placing  the  hooks  pr  'T«mdV\  larly 
through  the  ends  of  the  yoke,  the  draught  is  applied  precisely  as  in 
'he  double  yoke,  and  the  bow  consequently  keeps  its  proper  place. 

Mr.  Stabler,  a nice  observer  and  a practical  man,  residing  in  a 
middle  State,  sets  it  down  that  a horse  when  at  work  must  have  at 


tT  8 E OF  OXEN. 


157 


least  three  gallons  of  grain  a day,  and  for  six  months  in  the  year  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds  of  hay  per  week.  Supposing  him  to 
be  at  work  only  two-thirds  of  his  time,  and  during  the  remainder  to 
be  kept  on  hay  or  pasture  alone,  he  must  consume  upwards  of  ninety 
bushels  of  grain,  and  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five 
pounds  of  hay  in  a year,  which  latter  is  amply  sufficient,  with  such 
pasture  as  the  horse  must  have,  (and  some  additional  coarse  food  in 
the  winter),  to  keep  the  ox  in  prime  order  for  work  without  the  use 
of  any  grain.  Thus  it  appears,  that  for  every  ox  substituted  for  a 
horse,  there  are  ninety  bushels  of  grain  saved  in  the  year. 

From  data  given,  Mr.  Stabler  shows  a saving  on  four  oxen  instead 
of  four  horses  in  twelve  years,  of  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  — and  concludes  his  observations  on  the  subject  with  this 
wholesome  advice  : — 

44  It  cannot  he  too  strongly  urged  upon  those  who  are  about  em- 
barking in  agricultural  pursuits  as  a means  of  securing  a livelihood, 
(and  who  may  be  free  from  many  of  the  prejudices  entertained  against 
oxen),  to  make  the  experiment  at  least,  and  give  the  thing  a fair 
trials  before  they  encumber  themselves  with  that  moth , a stock  of 
farm-horses ; in  doing  which,  it  will  easily  be  seen  they  hazard  no- 
thing ; for  should  any  wish  to  abandon  the  plan  after  a sufficient 
trial,  one  summer’s  grass  will  enable  them  to  obtain,  in  cash,  an  ad- 
vance on  the  first  cost  of  their  cattle,  if  young  and  thrifty ; and  su  h 
ire  always  to  be  had.” 

J.  S.S 

14 


SHEEP  HUSBANDRY 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


“ Be  thou  diligent  to  knoio  the  state  of  thy  flock.91 


The  subject  of  sheep  husbandry,  as  adapted  to  the  United  States, 
involves  so  many  considerations,  that  no  system  can  be  recommended 
for  universal  adoption,  so  much  do  the  objects  to  be  kept  in  view  de- 
pend on  the  circumstances  of  the  farmer  — the  food  at  his  command 
and  the  markets  within  his  reach.  The  most  that  can  be  done  with 
promise  of  usefulness  is  to  describe  the  characteristics  of  the  several 
races  of  sheep  which  are  known  to  be  in  the  country,  and,  laying 
down  some  general  principles  as  applicable  to  sheep  husbandry, 
under  all  views  of  the  subject,  leave  the  farmer  to  determine  how  far 
it  may  be  expedient  to  appropriate  a portion  of  his  capital  and  care 
to  the  business  of  sheep  raising,  and  what  breed  promises  to  yield 
the  best  return.  While  one  farmer  convenient  to  a large  market  will 
naturally  look  to  the  butcher  as  his  best  customer,  another  will  find 
his  interest  in  the  adoption  of  a breed  that  will  best  meet  the  demands 
of  the  manufacturer.  The  one  chooses  a kind  of  sheep  that  will  in 
the  shortest  time  give  him  the  best  return  in  meat  ,*  the  other  bestows 
his  care  on  the  one  whose  fleece  will  bring  him  the  most  money,  the 
carcase  being  regarded  only  as  subsidiary  to  that  end.  And  again, 
where  lamb  and  mutton  are  the  principal  objects,  the  choice  of  the 
breed  may  depend  on  the  quality  of  the  soil  and  the  abundance  of  the 
pasture : where  these  are  rich  and  luxuriant,  a breed  which  ripens 
soonest,  and  is  most  inclined  to  fat,  as  the  Bakewell,  or  a yet  much 
larger  sheep  — a variety  of  the  Lincolnshire  — called  the  Cotswold 
breed,  will  be  preferred  more  especially,  and  as  long  as  the  butcher 
has  to  consult  the  prevalent  and  vulgar  taste  for  fatness , above  all 
other  qualities  of  meat. 

On  the  other  hand,  for  the  far  greater  portion  of  the  United  States, 
where  pastures  are  more  scanty,  and  the  animal  is  exposed  without 
regular  feeding  or  care  to  all  the  vicissitudes  of  climate,  a more  hardy 
race,  as  tne  improved  South-down , is  to  be  preferred.  Here  it  may  be 
added  that  the  present  race  of  South-downs,  such  as  have  been  im- 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


159 


ported  to  the  United  States,  as  will  hereafter  be  seen,  are  as  much 
meliorated  and  improved  in  form  and  early  maturity  over  the  little 
old  animal  of  that  name,  of  times  gone  by,  as  is  the  improved  short- 
horned  breed  of  cattle  on  the  original  stock  upon  which  they  were 
built. 

This  improvement  of  the  South-down  has  been  accomplished,  no; 
by  crossing  and  dovetailing  with  other  breeds,  but  by  a much  safer 
process,  one  which  guarantees  a continuation  of  its  established  ex- 
cellence under  ordinarily  good  management;  by  crossing  to  be  sure, 
but  by  crossing  with  and  upon  their  own  blood ; the  best  South-down 
ram  upon  the  best  South-down  ewe;  thus  perfecting  the  shape  anc 
disposition  of  the  breed  until  a British  writer  entitled  to  great  weight 
has  expressed  the  opinion  in  respect  of  it  which  we  anticipate  will 
prevail  and  be  acted  upon  before  a great  many  years  throughout  the 
greater  portion  of  the  United  States,  to  wit: — that,  “taking  all  their 
qualities  fairly  into  account,  the  Sout^i-down  excels  for  general  pur- 
poses any  breed  in  Great  Britain/’  The  intelligent  reader  will, 
however,  be  the  better  enabled  to  judge  for  himself,  when  the  pecu- 
liar qualities  of  the  several  breeds  shall  have  been,  as  we  propose, 
impartially  and  more  particularly  described. 

Fluctuation  of  price  has  heretofore  restricted,  and  will  continue  to 
limit,  investments  in  fine-woolled  sheep ; and  this  uncertainty  of  price 
is  the  consequence  of  two  causes  which  but  too  strongly  forbid  the 
hope  of  long-continued  uniformity  in  that  particular,  to  wit:  — the 
fluctuating  tariff  policy  of  the  country,  rising  or  sinking  in  the  scale 
as  one  party  or  another  gains  or  loses  the  ascendant;  and  then  again 
liable  to  be  depressed  by  the  ready  facility  with  which  in  a short 
time  the  supply  may  be  brought  up  to  and  above  the  level  of  the 
demand ; making  it  so  uncertain  whether  the  remunerating  price  of 
one  year  may  not  be  followed  by  a ruinous  depression  the  next. 
Under  all  circumstances,  the  grazier  of  sheep  that  yield  a wool  of 
moderately  good  quality,  can  probably  make  his  calculations  with 
more  certainty;  for,  should  the  prospect  justify  it,  he  has  but  to 
withhold  his  flock  another  year  from  the  butcher,  to  avail  himself  of 
a rise  in  the  wool-market.  In  New  England,  the  calculation  is,  that 
if  the  fleece  be  carefully  shorn  when  ripe,  and  the  pelt  carefully 
stripped  from  the  carcass  when  the  sheep  dies,  his  death  can  be  at- 
tended with  no  positive  loss  at  any  rate,  let  it  die  when  or  how  it 
may.  Taking  all  the  chances  of  reasonable  profit,  in  the  existing 
condition  of  the  country,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  sheep  hus- 
bandry of  the  United  States,  in  all  the  States,  south  and  west  of 
Pennsylvania  especially,  might  be  sooner  extended,  with  less  outlay, 
and  a surer  prospect  of  remunerating  results,  than  could  almost  any 
other  branch  of  industry,  if  sheep-masters  could  be  brought  to  bestow 
upon  it  a degree  of  care  and  of  regular  management  approaching  to 
that  which  this  interesting  business  commands  in  older  countries. 
Have  we  not  in  the  ice-bound  regions  of  the  north  convincing  proof 
that  in  the  vast  expanse  of  the  middle  and  southern  States,  the  rear- 


160 


ri  II  K E P HUSBANDRY. 


ing  of  sheep  for  the  butcher,  and  of  wool  for  the  manufacturer,  ought 
to  be  a leading  object  of  attention'?  Yet  look  at  the  table  hereafter 
to  be  presented,  of  the  number  of  sheep  to  the  acre  in  the  States  of 
Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  the  Carolinas,  with  their  fine  possessions 
of  cheap  mountain  land,  compared  with  the  number  in  Vermont  and 
New  York!  It  would  really  seem  as  if  these  old  southern  States 
were  animated  by  that  antipathy  to  this  emblem  of  meekness  and 
innocence  which  the  great  cynic  “of  Roanoke”  once  avowed  on  the 
floor  of  congress  would  prompt  him  to  go  “ out  of  his  way  at  any 
time  to  kick  a sheep!”  New  York,  one  sheep  for  every  two  and  a 
half  acres;  Maryland  and  Virginia,  one  for  every  thirty-three ; South 
Carolina,  only  one  for  every  hundred ; and  Arkansas,  one  for  every 
thousand  acres ! 

Were  it  allowable  in  this  mere  introduction  to  a work  on  the  diseases 
of  sheep,  the  whole  subject  of  sheep  husbandry  is  one  which  might 
be  profitably,  if  it  were  well  discussed,  opening  as  it  does  so  wide  a 
field  for  observation  and  lecture.  All  that  we  can  take  space  to  do 
will  be  to  call  attention  to  the  unemployed  capacities  of  the  country 
for  doubling  its  flocks  from  Pennsylvania  to  the  southern  and  western 
limits  of  the  Union;  and  he  who  runs  may  read  the  addition  which 
may  thus  so  easily,  and  with  so  little  cost  be  made  to  the  aggregate 
wealth  of  the  country. 

How  different  the  calculation  and  the  practice  in  the  north,  where, 
incredible  as  it  may  appear,  it  is  truly  a common  thing  for  farmers 
to  go  round  as  winter  approaches  and  buy  up  large  numbers  of  old 
sheep  at  a price  little,  if  any  more,  than  the  worth  of  their  skins,  the 
profit  of  the  speculation  consisting  in  part  in  the  value  of  the  carcass 
as  food  for  their  hogs.  The  pelt  being  first  taken  off,  the  carcass  is 
boiled,  or  tryed , as  they  term  it,  for  the  tallow  it  will  yield ; the 
residuum  is  given  to  their  hogs,  meal  being  mixed  therewith,  not 
long  before  they  are  slaughtered. 

It  has  been  somewhere  said  that  our  enlightened  minister  in  Eng- 
land was  thought  to  be  “boiling  the  ewe”  with  John  Bull,  when  he 
alluded  to  this  practice  in  New  England ; hence  we  may  suppose 
that  sheep  have  been  brought  to  no  such  base  uses  in  Great  Britain ; 
but  it  has  been  many  years  since  the  writer  was  assured  at  Brighton. 
Massachusetts,  that  flocks  of  sheep  were  sometimes  sent  with  droves 
of  hogs  from  Vermont  to  that  market,  to  constitute,  in  part,  their 
cheapest  provision  on  the  way ; and  very  recently  Mr.  Hyde,  a re- 
spectable and  extensive  mail  contractor  from  Vermont,  sustained  in 
his  statement  by  Mr.  Russel,  formerly  a member  of  congress  from 
New  York,  declared  the  system  of  buying  up  and  appropriating  old 
sheep,  as  before  stated,  to  be  a matter  of  common  occurrence.  The 
facts  are  here  mentioned  to  show  to  the  owners  of  millions  of  acres 
of  unappropriated  hilly  and  mountain  lands  from  the  western  branch 
of  the  Susquehanna  to  the  State  of  Alabama,  that  very  nice  calcu- 
lators of  profit  and  loss  find  their  account  in  raising  sheep,  even 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP.  161 

where  land  is  from  twenty  to  one  hundred  dollars  an  acre,  and  with- 
out stipulating  for  high  prices  for  mutton  and  for  wool. 

In  viewing  this  branch  of  industry  as  it  is  pursued  in  other  coun- 
tries, it  must  be  conceded  that  in  none  of  them  is  the  sheep  to  be 
found  in  such  variety  as  in  England,  nor  are  the  principles  of  sheep 
management  anywhere  better  understood.  Ten  years  since,  the 
number  in  England  was  estimated  at  thirty-two  millions,  and  the 
value  of  wool  at  seven  millions  pounds  sterling;  while  in  the  United 
States,  one  of  which  is  larger  than  England,  there  were  not  exceed- 
ing twenty  millions  of  sheep  in  1840. 

But  here  again,  as  in  other  industrial  pursuits,  the  superiority  of 
British  husbandry  is  referable,  not  to  more  advanced  knowledge,  but 
#to  lower  wages  for  labour,  and  to  their  greater  humidity  of  climate, 
which  enables  them  to  provide  succulent  rye  and  other  grass  pastures 
in  early  spring,  but  more  especially  in  the  productiveness  of  their 
turnip  husbandry . Each  contributes  to  sustain  and  extend  the  other, 
and  both  to  supporting  and  increasing  population.  But  the  vast  crops 
of  turnips  on  which  English  sheep  are  folded,  are  produced  with  an 
outlay  of  labour  in  quantity  that  nothing  but  the  cheapness  of  it 
would  warrant,  and  at  an  expense  after  all  which  shows  how  as  ne- 
cessary capital  is  to  the  best  system  of  tillage  as  it  is  to  the  prosecu- 
tion of  mercantile  or  any  other  business.  How  great  again  must  be 
the  profits  of  the  turnip  crop,  direct  and  indirect,  to  authorise  a tenant 
on  land  loaded  with  taxes  to  go  to  an  expense  of  nearly  fifty  dollars 
per  acre  in  putting  in  his  root  crop,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  article  Ap- 
praisement, in  that  inestimable  work  for  the  American  agriculturist, 
Governeur  Emerson’s  edition  of  the  American  Encyclopedia,  pub- 
lished by  Carey  & Hart  of  Philadelphia.  The  details  as  there  given 
of  expenditures  in  putting  in  only  seventeen  acres  of  Swedish  tur- 
nips, are  estimated  at  nearly  nine  hundred  dollars,  a sum  actually 
paid  for  the  crop  in  the  ground,  in  a case  stated  by  the  in-coming 
tenant.  Owing  to  the  mildness  of  their  winter,  the  turnip  crop  is 
left  on  the  land,  and  sheep  are  hurdled  on  small  lots  at  a time.  The 
land  is  thus  wonderfully  sustained  and  improved  fcr  the  production 
of  barley  and  wheat,  yielding  of  the  latter  in  many  cases  forty,  fifty, 
and  sixty  bushels,  and  that  in  light  land.  How  .'dmirably  adapted 
too  would  be  these  two  products  thus  auxiliary  to  arch  other,  turnips 
and  sheep,  to  the  sandy  lands  in  some  of  the  courties  along  out 
southern  seaboard  ! In  England,  both  Old  and  New,  instead  of 
leaving,  as  is  done  in  some  of  the  southern  States,  large  numbers  of 
sheep  to  die  off,  of  poverty  and  old  age,  breeding  from  the  worst,  and 
to  the  last,  and  thus  producing  a diseased  and  rickety  stock,  they  are 
systematically  sorted  out,  fattened  at  a given  age,  and  handed  ovei 
to  the  butcher. 

The  best  sheep-masters  in  England  fatten  and  sell  off  thsir  ewes, 
at  four  or  at  most  five  years  old.  It  was  the  opinion  of  the  celebrated 
Mr.  Ellman,  a British  farmer  of  high  and  Jiberal  character,  that 
though  an  old  ewe  would  bring  a large  lamb,  vet  such  a lamb  will 
14* 


162 


SHEEP  HUSBANDRY. 


not  generally  make  a large  or  fine  sheep ; nor  will  it,  as  he  though 
fatten  so  well  as  a lamb  from  a younger  ewe.  He  made  the  same 
observations  on  cows,  sows,  mares,  and  even  bitches. 

There  is  an  almost  universal  readiness  to  believe  that  by  saga- 
ciously crossing  different  breeds,  the  best  qualities  of  all  may  be 
obtained  in  one,  and  the  worst  of  any  one  bred  out . But  experiments 
have  not  verified  these  speculative  attempts,  either  with  sheep  or 
cattle ; and  even  if  admitted  to  be  practicable,  it  would  require  rare 
skill,  the  fruit  of  great  sagacity  and  experience,  to  carry  it  out  suc- 
cessfully. The  prudent  farmer,  therefore,  will  do  better,  having  first 
made  himself  distinctly  acquainted  with  the  inherent  peculiarities  of 
the  different  races  within  his  reach,  to  make  his  choice  of  some  par- 
ticular one,  which,  under  all  circumstances,  promises  to  pay  best  for 
his  outlay  of  attention  and  capital.  Having  done  that,  if  a man  of 
pride  and  diligence,  he  will  go  on  breeding  systematically,  until  in  a 
few  years  he  may  be  proud  to  exhibit  his  flock  to  the  best  judges. 
Entering  upon  sheep  husbandry  with  that  feeling,  he  will  be  ex- 
tremely careful  in  the  first  instance  in  the  selection  of  his  breeding 
ram.  Mr.  Ellman,  the  distinguished  English  farmer  and  sheep- 
master  before  referred  to,  recommends  one  ram  for  a flock  of  eighty 
or  one  hundred  ewes,  unless  a lamb  ram  be  used,  in  which  case  he 
advises  only  forty  ewes.  Great  care  should  be  taken  that  some  bad 
point  in  the  form,  or  old  stain  in  the  blood  of  the  ram  chosen,  does 
not  counterbalance  the  good  points  which  it  is  desired  he  should 
communicate  to  his  progeny.  He  will  reserve  from  his  whole  flock 
the  very  best  ewe  lambs  to  the  number  necessary  to  keep  up  his  re- 
gular stock  of  breeding  ewes ; he  will  have  his  ram  let  to  his  ewes 
on  a given  day,  to  ensure  the  yeaning  of  his  lambs  at  the  very  season 
which  his  best  judgment  tells  him  will  be  most  advantageous;  and 
he  will  take  care  that  his  flock  comes  into  the  feeding  yard  in  good 
season  and  in  good  condition,  well  knowing  that  according  to  the 
maxim  of  the  shepherd,  sheep  well  summered  are  already  half  win- 
tered, He  will  be  careful  to  sort  out  and  get  rid  of  all  unthrifty  and 
unsightly  individuals,  and  to  ensure  a flock  of  uniform  healthiness 
of  condition  and  comeliness  in  the  eye  of  the  practised  and  sagacious 
observer ; he  will  regularly  sell  off  all  after  a given  age.  It  may  be 
as  confidently  remarked  of  sheep  as  it  may  of  every  production  of 
the  animal  and  vegetable  world,  that  to  attain  a high  degree  of  ex- 
cellence, it  should  be,  not  forced,  but  well  kept , and  never  stinted  in 
infancy  or  during  that  period  which  nature  has  assigned  to  its  growth. 
Without  careful  attention  to  this,  it  is  impossible  to  establish  for  any 
flock  of  sheep  the  character  of  excellence.  No  after-management  or 
nourishment  can  eradicate  the  effects  of  neglect  or  short  feed  at  this 
period.  It  not  only  diminishes  the  frame,  but  impairs  the  constitu- 
tion. Hence,  in  regard  to  sheep,  it  is  obviously  necessary  so  to  have 
ambs  yeaned  at  a season  when  the  ewe  maw  be  well  sustained  with 
what  may  be  requisite  to  ensure  a good  supply  of  milk,  and  that 
snould  consist  of  good  sound  clean  hay,  or  well-cured  corn-blades, 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


163 


with  some  vegetables  in  winter,  as  being  necessary  alike  in  a medici 
nal  point  of  view,  and  as  tending  to  increase  the  quantity  of  milk 
Or  if  vegetables,  either  turnips,  potatoes,  or  sugar-beets,  have  not,  o / 
cannot  be  provided,  then  the  season  of  yeaning,  a matter  always 
under  the  control  of  the  sheep-master,  should  be  postponed  until  the 
rye  lots,  sowed  with  express  reference  to  this  subject,  may  afford  the 
best  pasture,  or  at  all  events,  in  the  absence  of  that  provision,  until 
the  grass  has  “taken  a start.”  And  herein  Great  Britain  may  well 
boast  her  eminent  advantage  over  us ; one  that  with  a view  to  sheep 
yet  more  than  to  cattle  husbandry,  more  than  counterbalances  the 
great  boon  of  Providence  to  these  United  States,  Indian  corn.  If  tlv 
political  economist  were  called  upon  to  indicate  the  broadest  basis 
and  most  fruitful  source  of  English  wealth  and  population,  he  might 
probably  designate  the  introduction  of  turnip  culture. 

Lord  Townshend,  in  the  reign  of  George  III.,  having  accompanied 
that  monarch  to  Hanover,  there  saw  turnips  cultivated  in  open  fields, 
as  fodder  for  cattle,  brought  home  the  seed,  and  in  spite  of  the  ridicule 
which  was  cast  upon  the  undertaking,  he  succeeded  in  persuading 
some  of  his  tenants  to  plant  them,  and  thus  it  happened  that  the 
heaths  and  wastes  of  Norfolk,  that  might  have  to  this  day  remained 
in  their  original  barrenness,  were  converted  into  magnificent  vegetable 
and  grain  fields.  Fed  off  to  sheep  that  are  folded  to  consume  the 
turnip  on  the  ground,  the  land  is  at  once  cleared  of  weeds,  and  highly 
manured,  so  that  the  original  value  of  the  turnip  as  fodder,  great  as 
that  is,  does  not  equal  the  resulting  benefits  in  the  preparation  of  the 
soil  for  heavy  crops  of  grain.  Thus  the  old  system  of  fallowing  has 
been  superseded,  and,  as  has  been  eloquently  said  by  an  English 
writer,  “ Mighty  nature  renews  her  strength,  not  by  indolent  repose, 
4*'t  in  alterations  of  energy.” 

Considering  how  lately,  and,  as  it  were,  accidentally  this  vegetable 
was  introduced  into  England,  it  is  marvellous  to  witness  its  progress 
ind  effects.  From  being  cultivated  only  in  gardens  for  cattle,  as  late 
as  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  Colquhoun,  in  his  statis- 
tical researches,  estimates  their  value  at  fourteen  millions  of  pounds 
sterling;  and  two  years  since,  a respectable  writer  puts  it  down  as 
being  equal  to  the  interest  of  the  national  debt.  It  was  in  view  of 
such  facts  that  our  enlightened  and  eminent  fellow  citizen,  Nicholas 
Biddle,  so  well  qualified  by  liberal  education,  various  attainments, 
and  philosophic  turn  of  mind,  to  speak  with  wisdom  and  force  on  all 
useful  subjects,  was  prompted  to  remark  in  one  of  his  luminous  dis- 
courses on  agriculture  — “It  is  strange  how  things  so  lowly  acquire 
national  importance;  the  best  farming  is  that  which  will  give  the 
greatest  mass  of  sustenance  to  animals,  since  the  less  land  required 
for  animals,  the  more  can  be  given  to  the  maintenance  of  human  be- 
ings. That  fine  farming  region  of  England  had  reached  the  limit  o! 
supporting  animals;  it  has  more  than  doubled  or  quadrupled  its 
power  in  that  respect;  and  now,  odd  as  the  mingling  of  such  dissi- 
milar notions  may  seem,  it  is  scarcely  an  exaggeration  to  say,  that 
15  * 


104 


SHEEP  HUSBANDRY. 


England*  s power  is  based  upon  its  iron,  its  coal,  and  its  turnips !” 
Thus  we  find  that  sheep,  since  the  introduction  (f  turnip  culture  in 
England,  have  increased  from  sixteen  to  upwards  of  thirty-two  mil 

lions. 

Embracing  with  pleasure  every  opportunity  to  do  honour  to  the 
names  of  those  real  benefactors  of  agriculture  like  Lord  Townshend, 
who  contribute  unostentatiously  to  multiply  the  comforts  of  life,  in 
the  same  connection  it  may  be  well  for  the  special  benefit  of  those 
who  affect  to  ridicule  book  farming  and  learned  farmers,  to  remark, 
en  passant,  that  the  greatest  agricultural  improvements  in  all  countries 
have  been  introduced  by  Gentlemen  Farmers;  to  them  the  best  in- 
formed annalists  of  English  agriculture  acknowledge  that  country  to 
be  indebted  for  the  turnip,  for  clover,  for  sanfoin,  for  lucerne,  potatoes, 
cabbages,  &c.  While  it  is  admitted  that  this  vegetable  has  supplied 
in  England  the  great  desideratum,  winter  food  for  sheep  and  cattle, 
and  given  to  the  supplies  of  both  prodigious  extension,  it  cannot  be 
denied  that  she  enjoys  for  success  in  turnip  husbandry  two  great 
means  which,  for  better  and  for  worse,  are  denied  to,  or  are  not  pos- 
sessed by  us.  It  is  better  for  us  in  the  long  run,  that  labour  is  too 
dear  to  bestow  on  the  culture  of  this  vegetable,  in  the  present  condi- 
tion of  the  country,  that  immense  outlay  in  preparing  and  manuring 
the  land  which  attends  it  in  England.  It  is  worse  for  us  if  we  could 
command  the  labour,  that  our  climate  is  generally  too  arid  for  its 
growth,  in  anything  like  the  abundance  yielded  by  the  turnip  crops 
in  England  ; and  such  is  the  severity  of  our  frosts  and  its  action  on 
the  earth,  that  it  would  not  be  practicable  to  feed  them  off  to  foldea 
sheep  as  in  England,  where  they  are  confined  by  hurdles  to  smaL 
portions  of  the  field  at  a time,  and  moved  to  fresh  lots  every  morning. 
Against  this  English  crop,  however,  valued  as  before  stated,  we  have 
(though  not,  it  must  be  admitted,  altogether  available  as  a substitute 
for  turnips  in  sheep  husbandry)  our  three  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
millions,  five  hundred  and  thirty-one  thousand,  eight  hundred  and 
seventy-five  bushels  of  Indian  corn!  which  she  reckons  not  at  all 
among  her  cereal  grains.  Yet  it  does  not  by  any  means  follow,  that 
because  the  turnip  is  not  so  well  suited  to  our  climate,  therefore  we 
cannot  profitably  raise  them,  especially  the  rutabaga  variety,  and  if 
not  them,  other  vegetables  accessary,  if  not  indispensable,  in  northern 
climates,  to  the  increase  of  our  flocks  of  sheep. 

In  looking  for  the  reason  why  sheep  should  be  a source  of  a large 
proportion  of  the  income  and  wealth  of  the  farmer,  in  the  snow-clad 
regions  of  Vermont,  where  his  sheep  go  into  the  fold-yard  in  No- 
vember, to  be  fed  until  May,  one  of  the  most  obvious  would  seem 
to  be  that  the  climate  is  better  adapted  to  hay  and  to  potatoes.  Look 
at  the  statistics  in  these  respects,  of  Virginia,  for  example,  with  hei 
forty-four  millions  eight  hundred  thousand  of  acres,  and  Vermont, 
containing  but  two  millions  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  thousand, 
we  find  that  the  former  produces  of  hay  but  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eight  tons,  and  of  potatoes  only  two 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


165 


millions  nine  hundred  and  forty-four  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty 
bushels,  while  Vermont  produces  of  hay  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-nine  tons,  and  eight  millions 
eight  hundred  and  sixy-nine  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-one 
bushels  of  potatoes ; and  somewhat  in  correspondence  with  these 
crops,  and  to  indicate  the  connection  of  sheep-rearing  in  some  mea- 
sure with  them,  Virginia,  where  the  sun  shines  and  the  grass  grows 
on  the  face  of  the  earth  almost  every  day  in  the  year,  carries,  as  will 
hereafter  be  seen,  but  one  sheep  to  every  thirty-three  acres  within  her 
borders,  while  her  frost-bitten,  snow-clad  sister  in  the  north,  carries 
one  for  every  two  or  three  acres,  and  feeds  them  during  five  months 
in  winter,  being  content  to  drive  them  from  one  to  two  hundred  miles 
to  market,  or  to  get  for  the  wool  an  average  price  for  the  last  twenty- 
hvo  years  varying  from  forty-four  up  to  eighty  cents  per  pound,  ex- 
cept this  year,  when  it  is  put  down  at  thirty  cents. 

It  may  as  well  be  noted  here  in  reference  to  the  general  manage- 
ment of  sheep  — indeed  of  all  domestic  animals  — that  in  nothing  is 
there  more  gross  neglect  than  in  omitting  to  salt  them  regularly  and 
abundantly.  In  Spain,  where  fine  wool  has  been  for  ages  one  of 
their  chief  staples,  one  hundred  and  twelve  pounds  of  salt  is  giver 
in  five  months  to  one  thousand  sheep.  The  late  celebrated  Englisl 
farmer  and  writer  on  agriculture  allowed  his  sheep  daily  each  fron 
two  to  four  ounces  of  salt  when  on  dry  pasture,  and  when  fed  on 
turnips  they  were  not  stinted  at  all  in  the  use  of  salt.  It  is  asserted 
ar  a fact  in  the  Cyclopedia  before  referred  to,  that  in  all  cases  they 
should  have  access  to  common  salt ; and  many  are  the  authorities  to 
prove  that  a free  use  of  salt  is  a preventive  of  rot  and  other  diseases. 

We  proceed  now  in  fulfilment  of  an  intimation,  and  for  the  reason 
already  given,  to  submit  a brief  sketch  of  the  characteristics  of  the 
few  races  from  which  the  farmer,  having  recourse  to  those  now  ac- 
cessible to  him  in  our  country,  must  make  his  selection,  repeating 
the  warning  that  by  no  skill,  in  combination,  or  any  artificial  mixture 
of  bloods,  need  he  expect  to  get  united  the  fine  fleece  of  the  Saxony 
merino,  the  early  maturity  and  obesity  of  the  new  Leicester,  the 
weight  of  the  Lincolnshire,  or  yet  larger  Cottswold,  and  the  hard- 
ness and  fine  mutton  that  give  eminence  to  the  South-down.  There 
may  yet  be  room  to  improve  any  particular  breed  of  cattle  or  sheep 
by  that  skill  in  the  choice  of  breeding  stock  and  perfection  in  man- 
agement, which  care  and  experience  only  can  beget,  but  we  much 
doubt  whether  any  new  breed  can  be  firmly  established  that  shall 
represent  the  excellencies  without  the  defects  of  different  natural 
races,  and  one  that  will,  at  the  same  time,  endure!  All  such  made-up 
breeds,  upon  the  least  relaxation  of  attention,  or  the  least  mistake  in 
sorting  with  a view  to  breeding  stock,  will  fly  to  pieces  and  exhibit 
vhe  defects  with  which  nature  is  sure  to  reward  the  impertinent  at- 
tempts of  ignorance  and  presumption  to  interfere  with  her  fundamental 
*aws  and  purposes.  A wayward  dame  is  she,  to  be  consulted,  not 
thwarted ; she  will  accept  and  repay  all  efforts  of  art  to  carry  out  hei 


106 


8H££P  HUSBANDRY 


designs,  and  to  improve  her  works  according  to  her  laws,  and  even 
leaves  room  for  and  invites  the  exercise  of  skill  and  diligence,  but 
will  not  be  crossed  in  her  path  or  permit  things  which  she  has 
ordained  to  be  distinct,  each  with  its  nature  adapted  to  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances and  ends,  to  be  mingled  up  with  any  hope  of  forming  a 
new  organization  better  in  all  respects  than  she  had  designed. 

In  England,  the  South-down  sheep  is  infinitely  improved  in  all 
that  can  give  it  value,  except  the  grain  and  flavour  of  the  mutton, 
which  time  immemorial  has  been  esteemed  superior,  but  that  has 
been  accomplished,  not  by  mingling  with  it  the  blood  of  any  othei 
family,  but  by  selection  and  care  in  breeding  and  feeding.  The  de- 
scription of  the  different  breeds  of  sheep  will  be  confined  to  those 
which  it  is  known  have  been  imported  into  the  United  States  in  such 
numbers  as  to  give  latitude  of  choice  to  those  who  may  propose  to 
look  to  the  rearing  of  sheep  as  an  object  more  worthy  of  attention 
than  it  has  been  hitherto  generally  regarded — and  first  of  the  Spanish 
Merino.  This  is  the  head  spring  of  all  the  known  flocks  of  fine- 
woolled  sheep.  While  their  name  would  indicate  that  they  were 
imported  into  Spain  from  beyond  sea,  their  exportation  from  that 
country  was  strictly  prohibited  for  ages,  until  as  late  as  1765,  by 
special  license  from  the  King,  two  hundred  were  sent  to  the  Elector 
of  Saxony,  where,  according  to  the  best  authority,  Mr.  Jarvis  of  Ver- 
mont, they  were  made  an  object  of  government  attention.  A board 
of  scientific  agriculturists  was  appointed  to  draw  up  rules  and  direc- 
tions for  their  management,  and  to  disseminate  the  breed  throughout 
the  electoral  dominions.  Woollen  manufactures  were  likewise  en- 
couraged, and  the  good  effects  of  this  wise  policy,  says  Mr.  Jarvis, 
soon  became  apparent,  in  the  increased  wealth  of  the  country,  and 
the  amelioration  of  the  condition  of  all  classes  of  society.  He  adds, 
when  the  merino  was  first  introduced  into  Saxony,  that  State,  and  all 
the  rest  of  Germany,  were  dependent  upon  England  and  France  for  a 
supply  of  a considerable  part  of  their  woollen  goods;  but  at  this  time 
Saxony,  as  well  as  several  other  States  of  Germany,  manufacture  all 
the  woollen  goods  that  are  necessary  for  their  consumption  ; in  addi- 
tion to  which  Saxony  now  exports  a considerable  amount  of  woollen 
goods  annually,  and  the  rest  of  Germany  an  immense  amount  of 
wool.  Mr.  Jarvis  is  of  opinion  that  while,  owing  to  the  different 
systems  of  management  that  prevail,  the  Saxony  descendant  of  the 
Spanisl  sheep  has  become  more  and  more  tender  and  infirm  of  con- 
stitution, its  fleece  has  been  certainly  somewhat  improved  in  this 
country ; and  in  reference  to  the  suitableness  of  our  own  country  to 
the  growth  of  the  finest  wool,  he  says,  — “About  six  years  ago  I 
compared  my  merino  wool  with  fifteen  or  twenty  samples  of  the 
Paular  flock  that  had  been  sent  me  from  Spain  where  I purchased, 
and  eight  of  the  ten  judges  who  examined  the  two,  gave  a decided 
preference  to  that  taken  from  the  hacks  of  my  sheep.”  He  goes  on  to 
say,  — “ Mr.  James  Shepherd,  who  carried  on  the  factory  at  North- 
ampton, and  who  purchased  my  merino  wool  for  several  years,  told 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


h«e,  that  the  superfine  broadcloths  made  from  my  wool  handled  softer 
than  did  those  from  the  best  imported  Spanish  wool  he  could  pur- 
chase; where,”  adds  he,  and  there  need  be  no  better  judge,  “the 
merino  has  been  bred  with  attention  and  care,  the  wool  has  not  dete- 
riorated in  any  other  country  except  England,  and  the  deterioration 
there  has  undoubtedly  been  owing  to  the  uncommon  humidity  of  the 
climate.”  Here,  then,  is  evidence  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  most 
skeptical  on  the  point  of  adaptation  of  climate  and  food  to  the  pro- 
duction of  the  finest  wool,  where  circumstances  invite  the  farmer  to 
choose  his  breed  with  an  eye  to  the  manufacturer  as  his  customer ; 
and  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Jarvis  goes  further  to  prove  that  if  England 
owes  the  superiority  of  her  turnip  crop  for  coarse-woolled  sheep  to 
the  moisture  of  her  climate,  for  the  same  reason  she  can  never  supply 
her  own  manufacturers  with  fine  wool. 

It  is  not  deemed  necessary  to  give  the  history  of  the  introduction 
of  the  merino  into  the  United  States,  further  than  to  state  that  the 
first,  a buck  and  two  ewes  from  the  Rambouellet  flock  in  France, 
were  sent  into  New  York  by  Chancellor  Livingston,  then  Minister 
to  France.  The  Hon.  David  Humphreys,  who  had  been  minister  to 
France  afterwards,  got  in  two  hundred  more  through  Portugal  into 
Connecticut.  These  importations  remained  unnoticed  and  almost 
unknown,  until  the  embargo  of  1807  and  the  non-intercourse  cut  off 
our  supply  of  woollen  goods  from  England ; attention  was  drawn  to 
the  necessity  of  making  ourselves  independent  of  a foreign  supply  of 
an  article  as  it  wrere  a necessary  of  life,  and  in  1809  and  1810  several 
thousand  merinoes  were  sent  from  Spain  to  the  United  States  by  Mr. 
Jarvis  of  Vermont,  and  Mr.  Grove  of  New  York,  and  distributed 
chiefly  in  the  northern  States,  but  in  smaller  numbers  as  far  south  as 
Norfolk  and  Richmond.  Subsequently,  to  wit,  in  1826,  there  arrived 
in  New  York,  Boston,  and  other  ports,  two  thousand  five  hundred 
Saxony  merinos.  Such  is  the  basis  of  the  flocks  now  kept,  of  pure 
and  of  mixed  blood,  in  our  northern  States,  where,  according  to  some 
interesting  statistical  accounts  on  the  subject  of  sheep  and  wool, 
compiled  in  1836,  by  Messrs.  Benton  and  Barry,  the  average  price  of 
wool  was  per  pound,  in 


1827,  .... 

1832,  . . 

1828,  . . . . 

40  “ 

1833,  . . 

1829,  . . . . 

29  “ 

1834,  . . 

1830, 

40|  “ 

1835,  . . 

1831,  .... 

1836,  .. 

58  “ 

Since  then,  the  price  has  been,  according  to  the  best  account*  we 
can  get,  in 

1838,  from  45  to  47  cents. 

1839,  from  45  to  60  “ 

1840,  from  43  to  44  “ 

1843, from  25  to  30  M 

12 


108 


S1IEEP  HUSBANDRY. 


Here  may  be  aptly  inserted  the  following  articles  from  the  February 
number  of  the  Albany  “ Cultivator,”  to  assist  the  judgment  of  those 
who  would  decide  on  the  best  information  as  to  the  prospects  for  a 
remunerating  price  for  the  coarser  kinds  of  long  wool.  It  will  be  seen 
that  under  the  influence  of  the  present  tariff,  and  the  probability  of  its 
remaining  for  some  time  undisturbed,  a large  amount  of  capital  is 
finding  its  way  to  employment  in  woollen  manufactures  by  the  esta- 
blishment of  branches  of  it,  hitherto  unattempted  in  this  country. 

We  have  great  pleasure  in  laying  before  our  readers  the  follow- 
ing letter  from  Samuel  Lawrence,  Esq.,  of  Lowell,  in  answer  to  one 
we  addressed  him,  enclosing  samples  of  wool  from  some  Leicester 
sheep,  owned  by  Mr.  Howard,  associate  editor  of  the  Cultivator.  It 
will  be  seen  from  this  letter  that  rapid  advances  are  making  in  this 
country  in  the  manufacture  of  such  goods  as  require  long  wool,  such 
as  is  produced  by  the  breeds  of  sheep  known  as  Cotswolds,  Leices- 
ters,  Lincolnshires,  &c. ; and  that  the  increasing  demand  for  this  kind 
of  wool  affords  encouragement  to  the  breeders  of  these  sheep,  which 
they  have  not  heretofore  enjoyed.  It  will  be  seen,  also,  that  Mr.  S. 
expresses  great  confidence  in  the  belief  that  the  prospects  of  the  wool 
grower  are  fully  equal  to  those  of  any  other  branch  of  husbandry.” 

“ Lowell , January  10,  1844. 

u Editors  of  the  Cultivator, 

“ My  numerous  engagements  at  the  opening  of  the  year  have  pre- 
vented an  earlier  reply  to  your  respected  favour  of  the  28th  ult. 

“ I have  examined  the  two  samples  of  wool,  and  am  of  opinion  that 
,hey  are  admirably  adapted  to  combing  purposes  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  Mouslin  de  Laines.  The  staple  is  long,  strong,  and  lustrous, 
qualities  not  desirable  for  felting  purposes,  especially  the  two  latter. 
I judge  these  samples  to  be  from  Cotswold  sheep,  a breed  which  it 
is  very  desirable  to  propagate  in  this  country,  as  the  worsted  business 
is  just  coming  into  existence.  The  secret  of  England’s  advance  of 
all  the  world  in  the  manufacture  of  worsted  goods,  lays  in  the  fact  of 
her  possessing  better  breeds  of  sheep  for  the  production  of  combing 
wools,  and  not  from  her  superior  skill  in  working  them. 

“ The  worsted  business , in  its  various  shapes , is  to  be  of  immense  im - 
portance  in  this  country ; and  it  affords  me  sincere  pleasure  to  be  able 
to  say  to  you  that  it  has  already  been  commenced  in  this  State  upon  a 
liberal  scale,  by  parties  whose  means  and  intelligence  are  a guaranty 
of  its  success.  A great  deal  of  talent  and  skill  have  been  brought  to 
bear  upon  this  branch  of  industry ; and  if  I am  not  greatly  deceived, 
the  time  is  near  when  old  England  herself  will  be  astonished  at  our 
success.  A number  of  hundred  looms  on  mouslines  are  already  in 
operation,  and  more  in  progress.  In  addition  to  the  works  already 
projected,  a company  is  now  being  formed  in  Boston , with  a capital 
of  a million  of  dollars , for  works  on  mouslin  de  laines , &c. 

“ In  reply  to  your  inquiry  about  the  kinds  and  quantities  of  wo  >3 
used  in  the  Middlesex  mills,  I have  to  say  that  we  use  about  a million 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP 


168 

of  pounds  yearly,  of  such  kinds  as  are  considered  in  this  count  y the 
choicest  produced ; say  full-blood  Saxony,  and  Saxony  mixed  with 
Merino.  We  are  very  fastidious  in  the  selection  of  our  wools,  both 
as  regards  the  blood  and  condition;  and,  in  consequence,  we  are  in 
the  habit  of  paying  prices  which  many  manufacturers  think  absurd. 

“ I am  clearly  of  the  opinion  that  no  branch  of  agriculture  promises 
better  th^n  the  culture  of  wool,  and  I sincerely  hope  more  attention 
will  be  given  to  it  than  has  been  paid  for  the  last  few  years. 

“Your’s,  Samuel  Lawrence.” 

According  to  the  following  table  it  will  be  seen  that  the  aggregate 
amount  of  capital  in  1840,  in  woollen  manufactures,  was  under  six- 
teen millions;  here  is  to  be  an  addition,  according  to  Mr.  Lawrence, 
of  one  million  in  a single  new  branch  of  it. 


Name  of  State,  &c. 

WOOL. 

No.  of 
fulluig 
mills. 

No.  of 
woollen 
manufac- 
tories. 

Value  of 
manufac- 
tured 
goods. 

No.  of 
persons 
employed. 

Capital  in 
vested. 

1.  Maine * 

151 

24 

$412,366 

532 

$316,105 

2.  New  Hampshire,  . . 

152 

66 

795,784 

893 

740,345 

3.  Massachusetts, 

207 

144 

7,082,898 

5,076 

4,179,850 

4.  Rhode  Island, 

45 

41 

842,172 

961 

685,350 

5.  Connecticut, 

157 

119 

2,494,313 

2,356 

1,931,335 

6.  Vermont, 

239 

95 

1,331,953 

1,450 

1,406,950 

7.  New  York, 

890 

323 

3,537,337 

4,636 

3.469.349 

8.  New  Jersey, 

49 

31 

440,710 

427 

314,650 

9.  Pennsylvania,  .... 

346 

235 

2,319,061 

2,930 

1.510,546 

10.  Delaware,  

3 

2 

104,700 

83 

107,000 

11.  Maryland, 

39 

29 

235,900 

388 

117,630 

12.  Virginia,  

47 

41 

147,792 

222 

112,350 

J3.  North  Carolina,  . .. 

1 

3 

3,900 

4 

9,800 

14.  South  Carolina,  ... 

3 

1,000 

6 

4,300 

15.  Georgia, 

1 

3,000 

10 

2,000 

16.  Alabama  

17  Mississippi  , 

IS  Louisiana  

19.  Tennessee, 

4 

26 

14,290 

45 

25,600 

20.  Kentucky,  

5 

40 

151,246 

200 

138,000 

21.  Ohio, 

206 

130 

685,757 

935 

537,985 

22.  Indiana, 

24 

37 

58,867 

103 

77,954 

23.  Illinois,  

4 

16 

9,540 

34 

26,205 

24.  Missouri, 



9 

13,750 

13 

5,100 

25.  Arkansas,  

1 

129 

12,600 

26.  Michigan,  

16 

4 

9,734 

37 

34'  120 

27.  Florida  

2ft.  Wisconsin  

29,  Iowa, 

800 

30.  Dist.  of  Columbia,  . 

Total, 

2,585 

1,420 

20,696,999 

21,342 

15,765,124 

South-down.  — Let  those  who  would  properly  appreciate  this  exr 
cellent  race,  banish  from  their  thoughts  the  diminutive  mottled  origina. 
South-down  stock  of  the  olden  time,  with  the  idea  of  which  the  name 
is  apt  to  be  associated  in  the  mind,  and  contemplate  the  portrait  heTe 


170 


SHEEP  HUSBANDRY* 


►resented  of  the  Buck  imported  in  1838,  by  E.  Pientice,  of  Mount 
lope,  near  Albany. 


Mr.  Prentice  says  they  are  “ in  size  between  the  Cotswold  and  oui 
native  sheep,  and  will  weigh  in  ordinary  flesh  from  one  hundred  and 
sixty  to  two  hundred  pounds ; the  one  of  which  this  is  an  engraving, 
weighs  one  hundred  and  eighty  pounds.  They  are  of  round,  full  and 
beautiful  form,  and  of  great  weight  for  their  apparent  dimensions, 
possessed  of  extraordinary  vigour  and  constitution,  fitting  them  for 
great  endurance  of  keep  and  exposure.  In  one  flock  of  about  fifty,  I 
have  never  known  an  invalid  for  an  hour,  or  one  low  in  flesh,  though 
tiieir  pasture  has  often  been  as  short  as  I have  ever  known  one,  on 
which  sheep  have  been  sustained.” 

Of  the  improved  South-down,  as  they  are  at  this  day  in  great  per- 
fection in  England,  no  further  description  need  be  added  than  the 
following  sketch  by  Mr . Allen,  editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  in 
an  interesting  account  of  his  visit  to  Mr.  Webb,  an  English  farmer, 
in  company  with  the  Hon.  Andrew  Stevenson , then  our  minister  to  Eng- 
and,  whose  judgment  as  an  agriculturist  was  well  displayed,  and 
vhose  least  service  to  his  country  was  important,  if  it  consisted  in 
{electing  and  bringing  home  some  of  the  finest  specimens  of  South- 
down to  be  found  in  Great  Britain. 

“ To  give  an  idea  of  the  weight  of  Mr.  Webb’s  animal,  the  South  • 
down  bick  selected  by  Mr.  Rotch,  though  only  six  months  old, 
weighed  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  pounds  on  the  scales;  bishop 
Mead’s,  eighteen  months  old,  two  hundred  and  forty-eight  pounds; 
and  Mr.  Stevenson’s,  of  the  same  age,  two  hundred  and  fifty-four 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEF. 


171 


^unds , whLe  a wether,  exhibited  at  Cambridge  on  Christmas  day, 
1840,  weighed  dressed,  with  the  head  on,  two  hundred  pounds,  aside 
from  yielding  twenty-eight  pounds  rough  tallow.  The  average  weight 
of  his  wethers,  however,  at  eighteen  or  twenty  months  old,  is  but 
about  thirty  to  thirty-five  pounds  per  quarter.  The  bucks  shear  from 
nine  to  eleven  pounds ; and  the  average  shearing  of  the  whole  flock 
is  six  pounds  fifteen  ounces,  and  of  a quality  of  wool  that  we  thought 
better  than  the  generality  of  South-downs.  The  fleece  is  close  and 
compact,  and,  we  should  think,  would  resist  rain,  sleet,  and  snow, 
nearly  as  well  as  the  best  Merino.”  Mr.  Allen  adds,  respecting  Mr. 
Webb’s  sheep,  — “They  are  very  hardy,  and  are  never  housed  in 
winter,  but  lie  in  the  open  fields,  and  are  fed  upon  hay,  with  cut 
turnips,  sugar-beets,  or  mangel  wurtzel.  In  the  summer  they  are 
taken  to  a poor  pasture  by  day,  at  a distant  part  of  the  farm,  for 
change  and  exercise ; and  towards  night  are  brought  near  home,  and 
folded  on  vetches,  clover,  or  rape.  The  lambs,  after  weaning,  are 
turned  into  fair  pasture,  and  fed  about  a pint  each  per  day,  of  beans, 
oil-cake,  or  some  kind  of  grain.  Mr.  Webb  says  he  is  an  advocate 
for  good  feeding,  and  that  a good  animal  always  pays  for  it.  This  is 
our  doctrine,  and  if  people  want  South-downs  to  starve,  they  had 
better  take  up  with  the  smallest  of  the  old  unimproved  race.” 

The  editor  of  the  Cultivator  adds — “ Messrs  Bement  and  McIntyre, 
in  the  vicinity  of  this  city,  have  beautiful  flocks  of  South-downs;  and 
the  flock  of  Mr.  Rotch,  of  Butternuts,  in  this  State,  is  one  of  the  best 
in  the  Union,  embracing,  as  it  does,  the  blood  of  the  Duke  of  Rich- 
mond’s, and  Messrs  Ellman’s  and  Grantham’s  flocks,  and  now  that 
of  Mr.  Webb’s.” 

“ Mr.  Rotch’s  sheep  have  proved  perfectly  hardy,  wintering  finely 
on  nothing  but  hay ; and  we  have  little  doubt  that  where  fine  qualities 
of  wool  are  not  the  great  object  in  sheep-growing,  the  South-downs 
will  prove  to  be  one  of  the  best  breeds  for  the  farmer.” 

To  ascertain  the  number  and  the  whereabouts  of  the  importers  and 
breeders  of  this  admirable  race  of  sheep,  unequalled  for  mutton,  un- 
less it  be  to  gratify  the  coarse  taste  for  fat  meat,  the  reader  has  but  to 
consult  the  pages  of  the  Cultivator,  the  American  Agriculturist,  and 
other  journals,  for  the  names  of  Prentice,  Rotch,  Bement,  Mclntire, 
Bagg,  and  others.  The  prices,  we  believe,  are  from  twelve  to  twenty 
dollars  for  thorough  breeds. 

The  Dishley  or  BakewelL,  or  new  Leicester  sheep . — With  this  breed 
all  persons  at  all  conversant  with  sheep-breeding  must  be  acquainted  ; 
so  much  so,  that  it  is  deemed  only  necessary  to  say  that  according  to 
our  observation,  which  has  been  not  very  limited,  being  among  the 
earliest  importers  of  some  of  the  best  oi  them  from  one  of  the  best 
flocks  in  England,  they  have  been  thus  accurately  characterised  : — 
“ Heads  clean,  straight,  and  broad ; bodies  round  and  barrel-shaped; 
eyes  fine  and  lively ; bones  fine  and  small;”  carried,  as  we  think 
by  Mr.  Bakewell  in  this  last  point  to  an  extreme.  An  English  writ 
©f  high  character,  Mr.  Ellman,  describes  the  wool  of  the  Bakewc 


172 


SHEEP  HUSBANDRY. 


as  being  “long,  fine,  and  well  calculated  for  combing,  and  fletcea 
weighing  about  eighty-five  pounds  at  two  years  old.  They  fatten  kindly 
and  early,  and  are  the  most  popular  sheep  for  the  market,  but  are  not 
very  sure  breeders  nor  good  nurses.”  Mr.  James  Bagg,  of  Montgo- 
mery, New  York,  a very  large  importer  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  hogs, 
presents  a comparison  and  an  estimate  of  the  value  of  the  only  breeds 
to  which  we  deem  it  necessary  to  call  the  attention  of  American 
farmers.  The  reader  will  draw  his  own  conclusions. 

“ A Saxon  lamb,  six  months  old,  weighing  18  lbs.  at  8 cents,  $1.44 


Merino  lamb,  “ “ “ 20  “ “ 1.60 

Bakewell  “ “ “ 30  “ “ 2.4C 

Cotswold,  “ “ “ 60  “ “ 4.80 

South-down,  “ “ “ 50  “ “ 4.00 

In  the  second,  their  wool. 

Saxon  fleece,  weighing  3 lbs.  at  50  cents, $1.50 

Merino  “ “ 3 “ “40  “ 1.20 

Bakewell  “ “ 5 “ “30  “ 1.50 

Cotswold  “ “ 10  “ * “ 36  “ 3.60 

South-down  “ “ 5 “ “40  “ 2.00 


“ The  above,  I think,  will  show  the  difference  in  value  of  the 
lambs  and  fleeces,  but  no  one  is  to  suppose  that  eight  cents  per  pound 
is  the  value  of  the  Cotswold  or  South-down  lamb.  They  are  now 
worth  about  twenty  to  twenty-five  dollars  each.  I would  not  sell  at 
* less  price. 

“ In  the  third  place,  the  sheep  when  full  grown. 


Saxon  sheep,  weighing  50  lbs.  at  6 cents,  $3.00 

Merino  “ “ 60  “ “ 6 “ 3.60 

Bakewell  “ “ 110  “ “6  “ 6.60 

South-down  “ “ 120  “ “6  “ 7.20 

Cotswold  “ “ 240  “ “6  “ 14.40 


“ The  Bakewell  I consider  a sheep  not  at  all  adapted  to  this  cli- 
mate, being  of  a tender  constitution,  hard  to  keep,  wool  coarse,  small 
fleece;  another  objection  is,  when  the  wool  is  a few  inches  long,  it 
parts  and  leaves  the  back  of  the  sheep  naked  ; and  wffien  exposed  to 
cold  storms,  the  animal  is  much  injured,  and  many  of  them  die.  The 
Saxon  and  Merino  I find  much  alike,  both  of  a weak  constitution, 
and  require  great  attention  to  keep  them  alive,  through  the  winter ; 
they  are  also  very  bad  nurses  ; a great  difficulty  in  rearing  their  lambs. 
I have  conversed  with  many  gentlemen  who  keep  large  flocks  of 
Merino  and  Saxon  sheep,  and  they  all  agree  what  I have  stated  re- 
specting them  to  be  correct,  but  they  say  we  must  have  fine  wool. 

'“I  must  say  that  the  South-down  and  Cotswold  sheep  have  ex- 
ceeded my  expectation.  I have  seen  some  of  the  South-down  wool 
manufactured  into  cloth  fine  enough  for  anv  man;  and  if  people  get 
the  pure-blooded  South-down  sheep,  they  have  an  animal  in  every 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP- 


173 


respect  that  is  wanted  ; their  mutton  superior  to  anv  in  the  wo  rid 
of  a hardy  constitution ; the  wool  good  ; and  no  sheep  will  live  on 
shorter  pasture.  The  South-down  has  a hrown  face  and  legs,  01 
dark  grey. 

I consider  the  Cotswold  sheep  a hardy  animal  well  adapted  for 
this  country ; but  they  want  better  keep  than  the  South-down ; they 
make  great  weight,  and  their  fleeces  are  heavy.  I had  last  year 
eighteen  Cotswold  ewes  whose  fleeces  averaged  ten  and  a half 
pounds,  and  one  buck  whose  fleece  weighed  eighteen  and  a quarter 
pounds.  I S(?ld  a lamb  to  Mr.  Haviland  of  Long  Island,  who  had  it 
shorn  at  one  year  old ; the  fleece  weighed  twelve  and  a half  pounds 
clean  wool.  I saw  some  of  this  breed  of  sheep  slaughtered  in  Glou- 
cester, England,  which  weighed  seventy-five  pounds  per  quarter.  A 
noted  breeder  there  informed  me  that  they  often  exQeeded  that  weight. 

“ Some  may  say  that  the  South-down  and  Cotswold  lambs  cannot 
weigh  one  hundred  pounds  at  the  age  stated.  If  any  doubt  it,  if  they 
will  call  on  Bagg  and  Watt,  of  Montgomery,  New  York,  they  can 
see  lambs  of  five  months  old  much  heavier. 

“ Montgomery , N.  Y,,  July  21,  1840.” 

Those  who  have  rich  pastures  and  abundant  food,  and  whose  object 
is  to  supply  the  butcher,  would  probably  best  adopt  the  Cotswold , 
already  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Bagg,  of  which  we  find,  among  other  in- 
ducements, great  size  and  aptitude  to  fat,  with  more  hardiness  and 
better  constitution  than  the  Bakewell.  The  following  item  in  the 
seventh  volume  of  the  Cultivator  may  prove  interesting  on  some  of 
these  points : — 

“ I cannot  leave  this  place  without  giving  you  some  description  of 
six  Cotswold  wether  sheep,  bred  and  fed  by  Mr.  Dunn,  with  refer- 
ence to  the  whole  inhabitants  of  Albany.  Mr.  Kirkpatrick,  who 
purchased  them,  says  the  heaviest  sheep  weighed  two  hundred  and 
ten  pounds,  and  the  fat  on  the  ribs  measured  five  and  a quarter  inches. 
I saw  the  smallest;  the  thickness  of  fat  from  my  own  measurement 
was  four  and  a quarter  inches ; the  price  twenty-two  dollars  each 
and  the  meat  sold  in  the  market  readily  for  twelve  and  a half  cents 
per  pound.  The  fleeces  from  these  sheep  averaged  about  ten  pounds 
each ; these  are  facts  from  the  breeder  and  the  butcher  without  dimi- 
nution or  addition.  W.  H.  Sotham.” 

“ P.  S.  Perhaps  it  will  be  as  well  to  observe  that  these  lambs  were 
not  thought  sufficiently  good  to  reserve  for  breeders,  and  were  the 
culls  of  his  males.” 

An  English  paper  stated  that  a fleece  weighing  twenty-three  pounds 
was  taken  from  a Cotswold  ram  in  1840,  owned  by  J.  Gciuld  of  Pot 
more. 

Albany , Feb . 27,  1840. 

Later  still,  in  1843,  a sheep  of  the  Cotswold  breed  was  slaughtered 
In  Albany ; live  weight,  two  hundred  and  sixty  pounds ; carcass, 
dressed  with  head  cn,  two  hundred  and  ten  pounds;  showing  a differ 
15* 


174 


SHEEP  HUSBANDRY. 


ence  of  less  than  one-fifth  between  the  live  and  death  weight.  It  it 
added  that  the  only  feed  of  this  sheep  daring  the  past  summer  waa 
clover  pasture,  hurdled  with  others  from  15th  of  October  to  15th  of 
November.  From  that  time  to  his  being  slaughtered  and  exhibited, 
22d  of  February,  he  was  fed,  with  three  South-down  bucks,  under 
cover,  with  turnips,  buckwheat,  and  clover;  one  bushel  of  turnips 
and  three  quarts  of  buckwheat,  together  with  two  pounds  of  hay, 
were  fed  to  the  four  daily.  It  is  enough  to  ensure  confidence  in  the 
accuracy  of  this  statement  that  it  appears  to  be  from  the  editor  of  the 
Cultivator  himself. 

The  Lincolnshire  Sheep  are  described  by  Mr.  Ellman  as  being 
“faces  white;  bones  large;  legs  white,  thick,  and  rough;  carcass 
long,  thin,  and  weak ; wool  fine  and  long,  from  ten  to  eighteen  inches, 
weighing  per  fleece,  when  killed  at  three  years  old,  an  average  of 
about  eleven  pounds;  flesh  coarse  grained  ; slow  feeders,  calculated 
only  for  the  richest  pastures;  constitutions  tender.” 

Mr.  L.  D.  Cleft,  of  Somers,  New  York,  had  a large  flock  of  this 
breed  in  1340,  and  states  in  the  Cultivator  of  that  year  that  he  had 
“raised  in  1839  from  sixty-four  ewes,  (chiefly  ewes  two  and  three 
years  old),  ninety-two  lambs,  and  had  not  lost  a single  lamb  by  reason 
of  exposure.”  That  when  his  ewes  were  older,  “ more  than  half  had 
twins.”  Mr.  C.  says  further,  in  1841  — “The  present  winter  my 
prirnest  wethers  went  to  market  about  the  first  of  December,  twenty- 
four  in  number;  six  of  these  sheep  were  three  years  old,  and  gave  a 
total  dead  weight  of  eight  hundred  and  seventy-nine  pounds,  or  one 
hundred  and  forty-six  and  a half  pounds  per  carcass,  equal  to  thirty 
six  and  a half  pounds  per  quarter;  and  I am  informed  that  one  of 
these  sheep  gave  thirty-six  pounds  of  caul  or  rough  fat.”  This  breed 
is  sometimes  mistaken,  or  passed  off  for  the  Dishley  or  Leicester 
breed,  which  is  more  perfectly  formed,  of  perhaps  somewhat  earlier 
maturity,  but  not  so  large  by  eight  or  ten  pounds  to  the  quarter. 

The  Cotswold. — The  same  English  writer,  in  whom  we  have 
already  expressed  our  respectful  confidence,  treats  of  the  Cotswold 
sheep  as  one  of  the  “ varieties”  of  the  Lincolnshire,  the  “ Treswater” 
being  another,  and  describes  the  Cotswold  as  “ in  most  respects  re- 
sembling the  parent  breed,  but  superior;  wool  not  so  long  as  that  of 
the  original  sort;  mutton  fine  grained  and  full  sized,  capable  of  great 
improvement  by  proper  crossing.  Mr.  Thomas  Wells,  of  Hampnett, 
has  favoured  us  with  the  following  particulars  on  the  improved  con- 
dition of  this  excellent  breed:  — “The  Cotswold  sheep,  previously  to 
being  crossed  witli  the  Leicester,  were  of  large  size,  well  woolled,  arid 
good  sucklers,  but  high  on  the  shoulders,  with  a hollow  behind,  in- 
clined to  a thin  fcre-flank  and  coarseness  in  bone.  In  their  improved 
state,  they  are  rendered  not  only  much  finer  in  bone,  but  fit  for  market 
in  half  the  period  they  were  formerly,  as  they  were  not  fatted  until 
three  or  four  years  old  ; but  now  they  are  seldom  offered  to  a butcher 
at  more  than  two  years.  Their  size  is  not  quite  so  large  as  before  the 
cross,  but  when  fat,  average  about  the  same  weight,  which  by  com- 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP* 


175 


mon  feeding  is  about  fourteen  or  sixteen  stone,  and  will  by  extraor- 
dinary feeding  arrive  at  about  twenty-five  or  twenty-six  stone.  As 
yearlings  they  possess  the  striking  qualification  of  averaging  under 
good  management  ten  or  eleven  stone,  which  is  found  to  answer 
much  better  than  keeping  them  longer.  These  merits,  in  addition  to 
the  great  weight  of  combing  wool  they  produce,  has  greatly  increased 
their  value.  It  is  highly  requisite  to  guard  against  breeding  them  too 
fine.  If  they  are  well  bred  they  are  equally  as  hardy  as  they  were 
formerly,  but  if  bred  too  fine  they  lose  in  constitution,  are  unable  to 
support  their  young,  produce  meat  of  a bad  quality,  and  not  having 
a proportionate  quantity  of  lean,  their  wool  becomes  short  and  too 
fine  in  quality,  and  they  frequently  become  naked  bellied,  wThich  oc- 
casions great  loss  in  the  weight  of  their  fleece.”  It  is  this  “ breeding 
too  fine,”  in  other  words  too  closely,  that  has  impaired  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  Bakewells  or  Dishleys,  made  them  bad  nurses,  and  dimi- 
nished too  much  the  proportion  of  lean  meat.  The  true  problem  for 
the  sheep  farmer  is  what  breed  will  give  him  one  year  with  another 
the  greatest  profit  to  the  acre.  If  pasturage  be  short,  it  is  clear  that 
a greater  number  of  sheep  of  smaller  size  will  gather  more  in  a given 
time  than  a smaller  number  of  heavier  sheep ; and  we  believe  that 
keeping  in  view  the  resources  for  maintaining  sheep  through  the  year, 
the  safer  plan  is  to  take  a breed  of  hardy  constitution  and  of  a size  not 
so  large,  such  as  the  South-down,  and  thus  hit  the  happy  medium ; 
and,  in  the  general  way,  we  have  no  hesitation  in  hazarding  the 
opinion  for  what  it  is  worth,  that  the  same  principle  — moderate  size 
and  thriftiness  of  habit  and  hardiness  of  constitution  — is  the  one  on 
which  it  is  most  expedient  for  American  husbandmen  to  act,  in  the 
great  majority  of  cases,  in  regard  not  only  to  sheep,  but  to  cattle, 
hogs,  horses,  and  even  poultry. 

At  a meeting  of  the  Pennith  Agricultural  Society  in  England,  in 
1839,  the  awards  of  the  judges  were  in  favour  of  the  middling  sized 
sheep.  At  the  dinner,  on  the  health  of  the  judges  being  proposed, 
Mr.  Gray,  the  chairman,  speaking  on  the  comparative  profits  to  the 
grazier  of  large  and  small  sized  sheep,  made  the  following  among 
other  remarks : — 

“I  dare  say  that  the  opinion  of  the  judges  with  respect  to  sheep 
has  been  much  censured,  although  I declare  I have  not  heard  any 
observations  to  that  effect.  My  reasons  for  supposing  so  is  this  — 
that  people  who  have  not  great  experience  in  the  qualities  and  niceties 
connected  with  every  description  of  stock,  are  apt  to  look  principally 
at  that  which  fills  the  eye,  and  to  form  a favourable  opinion  of  animals 
upon  a large  scale ; and  this  is  particularly  the  case  with  respect  to 
the  Leicester  sheep.  I have  had  considerable  experience  with  sheep 
of  this  description,  having  in  former  times  kept  a flock  of  between 
nine  hundred  and  one  thousand  Leicester  ewes,  and  therefore  I have 
some  title  to  speak  upon  the  subject.  I say,  then,  that  the  largest 
sheep  are  the  least  profitable.  If  it  can  be  ascertained,  as  I believe 
it  has  been,  that  you  can  feed  on  an  acre  of  land  a greater  number  01 


170 


SHEEP  HUSBANDRY. 


pounds  of  mutton  in  carcases  of  from  eighteen  to  twenty  pounds  pel 
quarter  than  in  carcases  of  from  twenty-eight  to  thirty  pounds,  then 
every  one  must  agree  that  the  advantages  are  on  the  side  of  the  smallei 
carcases.  The  reason  of  this  is  obvious.  In  times  of  drought  and 
scarcity,  a small  animal  can  collect  as  much  food  as  a larger  one,  and 
having  a smaller  carcass,  it  derives  much  more  advantage  from  it. 
While,  therefore,  the  larger  animal  is  losing  in  condition,  the  smaller 
one,  if  not  improving,  remains  stationary ; and  when  the  period  arrives 
at  which  abundance  of  food  can  be  obtained,  it  almost  immediately 
reassumes  its  position,  and  is  fit  to  go  to  the  market  sooner  than  the 
larger  animal.  I do  not  presume  to  offer  anything  like  dictation  to 
this  meeting,  but  I am  confident  that  those  gentlemen  present,  who 
have  had  experience  on  this  subject , will  bear  me  out  in  saying  that 
there  are  advantages  in  breeding  the  description  of  stock  to  which  I 
have  been  referring,  which  do  not  attach  to  animals  of  better  appear- 
ance and  larger  size.” 

Nevertheless,  we  should  say,  that  if  the  farmer  have  at  command 
a superabundance  of  grass  and  corn,  which  it  would  be  his  interest 
to  convert  into  meat,  that  its  value  may  be  more  condensed  and  por- 
table, then  the  most  economical  machine  or  animal  is  that  one  which 
above  all  will,  as  a machine,  soonest  convert  that  superabundance  of 
food  into  meat  of  a kind  that  will  bring  the  best  return  in  the  market. 

In  all  ages,  among  nations  in  any  degree  removed  from  the  lowest 
stage  of  barbarism,  a census  in  some  form  has  been  deemed  neces- 
sary to  an  understanding  of  their  condition,  resources,  and  means  of 
defence;  and  the  fullness  and  accuracy  of  these  periodical  returns 
may  be  said  in  some  sort  to  mark  the  progress  of  political  science 
and  civil  polity.  As  yet  the  census  of  the  United  States  is  altogether 
defective  in  many  particulars  connected  with  important  questions  of 
political  economy,  and  there  is  too  much  reason  to  believe  that  the 
actual  returns  have  been  made  with  a degree  of  carelessness  and  want 
of  uniformity  sufficient  to  create  distrust  in  the  results  as  they  have 
been  published.  Yet  such  as  it  is,  it  forms  the  most  reliable  means 
of  calculation  on  questions  like  the  one  in  hand.  We  have,  it  seems, 
no  return,  for  instance,  (as  we  happen  to  have  had  occasion  to  observe) 
either  of  the  number  of  mules  or  of  the  turnip  crop  in  the  United  States. 
In  the  following  table  we  have  embraced  the  returns  of  hay  and  of 
potatoes , as  these  in  the  northern  States  constitute  the  chief  food  of 
sheep,  as  before  said,  for  four  or  five  months  in  the  year.  We  have 
added  to  the  table,  as  nearly  as  could  well  be  ascertained,  the  number 
of  acres  to  a sheep  in  the  several  States  and  territories  ; and  the  reader 
will  be  struck  with  the  fact,  that  while  fine  wool  may  be  transported 
at  such  a trifling  expense  in  proportion  to  its  value,  they  should  be  in 
such  a very  large  proportion  located  very  near  to  the  wool  market, 
and  on  land  which  bears  the  highest  price,  while  the  natural  distribu- 
tion would  appear  to  be  to  rear  the  fine  wool  on  the  cheap  table-lands 
of  the  mountains,  and  the  limitless  prairies  of  the  west.  It  has  been 
ascertained  that  wool  *iny  be  sent  from  the  prairies  of  Illinois  to 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


1?7 


Lowell,  Massachusetts,  inland,  lor  oni)'  two  dollars  twelve  and  a half 
cents  per  hundred  pounds,  or  forty-two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  pe* 

►on. 

Distribution  of  sheep  and  wool,  hay  and  potatoes,  in  the  United 
States,  according  to  the  census  of  1840,  with  a calculation  of  the 
number  of  sheep  to  the  acre,  in  each  of  the  States  and  Territories  : — 


Name  of  State,  &c. 

Sheep. 

Pounds  of 
wool. 

Tons  of 
hay. 

Bushels  of 
potatoes. 

No.  ot 
acres  tc 
a sheep 

].  Maine, 

649,264 

1,465,551 

691,358 

10,392,280 

50 

2.  New  Hampshire, 

617,390 

1,260,517 

496,107 

6,206,606 

10 

3.  Massachusetts, . . 

378,226 

941,906 

569,395 

5,385,652 

12 

4.  Rhode  Island,  . . . 

90,146 

183,830 

63,149 

911,973 

10 

5.  Connecticut, 

403,462 

889,870 

426,704 

3,414,238 

10 

o.  Vermont, 

1,681,819 

3,699,235 

836.739 

8,869,751 

3$ 

7.  New  York, 

5,118,777 

9,845,295 

3,127,047 

30,123,614 

2$ 

8.  New  Jersey,  .... 

219,285 

397,207 

334,861 

2,072,069 

24 

9.  Pennsylvania,  . . 

1,767,620 

3,048,564 

1,311,643 

9,535,663 

24 

10.  Delaware, 

39,247 

64,404 

22,483 

200,712 

33$ 

11.  Maryland, 

257,922 

488,201 

106,687$ 

1,036,433 

33$ 

12.  Virginia, 

13.  North  Carolina,  . 

1,293,772 

2,538,374 

364,708| 

2,944,660 

33$ 

538,279 

625,044 

101,369 

2,609,239 

50 

14.  South  Carolina,  . 

232,981 

299,170 

24,618 

2,698,313 

100 

15.  Georgia, 

267,107 

371,303 

16,969$ 

1,291,366 

143 

16.  Alabama, 

17.  Mississippi,  .... 

163,243 

220,353 

12,? 18 

1,708,356 

240 

12«,367 

175,196 

171 

1,630,100 

250 

18.  Louisiana, 

98,072 

49,283 

24,651 

834,341 

50 

19.  Tennessee,  

741,593 

1,060,332 

31,233 

1,904,370 

50 

20.  Kentucky, 

1,008,240 

1,786,847 

88,306 

1,055,085 

25 

21.  Ohio, 

2,028,401 

3,685,315 

1,022,037 

5,805,021 

10 

22.  Indiana, 

675,982 

1,237,919 

178,029 

1,525,794 

33 

23.  Illinois 

395,672 

650,007 

164,932 

2,025,520 

100 

24.  Missouri, 

348,018 

562,265 

49,083 

783,768 

125 

25.  Arkansas, 

42,151 

64,943 

586 

293,608 

1,000 

26.  Michigan,  

99,618 

153,375 

130,805 

2,109,205 

250 

27.  Florida 

7,198 

7,285 

1,197 

264,617 

5,000 

28.  Wisconsin,  

3,462 

6,777 

30,938 

419,608 

14,285 

29.  Iowa,  

30.  Dist.  of  Columbia 

15,354 

23,039 

17,953 

234,063 

2 500 

706 

707 

1,331 

12,035 

100 

Total, 

19,311,374 

35,802,114 

10,248,108$ 

108,298,060 

Since  writing  thus  far,  an  opportunity  has  been  embraced  to  obtain 
some  information  as  to  the  resources  of  Western  Virginia  and  the 
Carolinas.  We  were  informed  by  a member  of  congress  from  Pittsyl- 
vania county  that  his  flock  of  two  hundred  go  through  the  winter  one 
year  with  another  at  a cost  for  food  of  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for  the 
whole  flock.  It  was  only  yesterday,  1st  of  February,  that,  in  conver 
sation  with  Mr.  J.  Wadsworth,  of  Geneseo,  President  of  the  New 
York  State  Agricultural  Society,  eminent  for  his  intelligence  and  en- 
terprise, as  an  American  farmer  of  great  opulence  and  influence,  we 
learned  that  coarse  wool,  under  influences  of  recent  existence,  is 
getting  into  greater  demand.  He  observed  that  there  were  practical 
farmers  in  New7  York,  though  he  was  not  prepared  to  say  it  could  bo 
realised,  who  contended  that  they  could  pursue  sheep  husbandry 
profitably  on  land  costing  thirty  dollars  the  acre. 


178 


8HEEP  HUSBANDRY. 


How  different  are  the  circumstances  of  sheep  husbandry  in  the 
North,  may  be  estimated  by  the  following  account  of  his  treatment 
of  his  flock,  by  Mr.  Leonard  Jarvis,  of  Claremont,  New  Hampshire, 
a sheep  breeder  of  great  intelligence  and  experience,  owner  of  four 
distinct  families  of  fine-woolled  sheep.  He  says,  in  a letter  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Coleman,  “ I annually  commence  with  dry  fodder  by  the 
middle  of  November , and  discontinue  by  the  5th  of  May,  (nearly  six 
months)  ; generally,  however,  for  the  first  and  last  fifteen  days,  giving 
no  hay,  unless  the  ground  should  be  covered,  but  feeding  about  half 
a gill  of  Indian  corn  to  each  sheep  twice  a day.  As  far  as  my  ex- 
perience extends,  a ton  of  good  hay  will  suffice  for  ten  sheep  with  the 
above  quantity  of  grain ; they  are  fed  from  racks  in  the  yard,  and 
have  sheds  to  retire  to  at  will ; I have  fed  under  cover,  but  believe 
that  it  has  a tendency  to  diminish  the  appetite  and  weaken  the  con 
stitution.  They  are  kept  in  separate  yards,  in  number  from  fifty  to 
one  hundred,  taking  care  to  keep  those  of  about  the  same  degree  of 
strength  to  themselves,  and  have  running  water  through ; when  the 
ground  is  covered  with  snow,  I think  they  do  well  without  it.  I 
allow  about  four  bushels  of  salt  to  the  hundred  sheep,  the  greater  part 
of  which  is  consumed  when  the  sheep  are  at  grass.  My  bucks  run 
with  the  ewes  from  the  1st  to  the  10th  of  December,  allowing  three 
to  one  hundred.  The  number  of  lambs  reared  depends  much  upon 
the  season.  Sixty  lambs  to  the  hundred  ewes  may  be  the  average 
from  flocks  of  quality  like  mine ; from  coarser  flocks  the  return  is 
greater.  The  ewes  are  not  permitted  to  receive  the  buck  until  after 
they  are  two  years  old  ; and  I prefer  bucks  from  two  years  old  to 
four.” 

We  must  here  close  this  introduction  to  the  work  on  the  u diseases 
of  sheep ” with  the  following  correspondence,  opened  on  the  part  of 
the  editor,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  some  reliable  information  as  to 
the  advantages  held  out  for  the  growth  of  sheep  and  the  manufacture 
of  woollen  goods  in  the  districts  of  country  which  have  been  strangely 
overlooked  since  facilities  were  created  and  the  rage  inspired  for 
emigrating  to  the  far  west!  leaving  behind  immense  tracts  of  cheap 
!and,  abounding  in  water-powTer,  and  adapted  to  the  growth  of  every- 
thing conducive  to  successful  sheep  husbandry;  in  truth,  wanting 
nothing  but  capital  and  industry.  In  presenting  Mr.  Clingman’s 
letter,  we  may  express  the  hope  that  its  interesting  character,  and  the 
freshness  of  the  country  it  opens  to  our  view,  will  atone  to  the  reader 
for  the  length  and  dryness  of  the  route  by  which  he  has  been  led 
to  it. 

Washington , 30£A  January , 1844- 

Hon.  T.  L.  Clingman, 

Dear  Sir,— I have  lately  had  occasion,  as  a leisure  hour  has  offered,  to  bestow  some 
consideration  on  the  sheep  husbandry  of  the  United  States;  in  the  course  of  which  it 
has  occurred  to  ine  that  the  people  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  have  not  availed  themselves  to  the  extent  that  they  might  probably  do 
of  that  source  of  reward  for  labour  and  capital.  It  seems  to  me  that  the  middla  « 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP 


179 


hilly  and  the  mountainous  portions  of  those  States  anti  of  Maryland,  must  be  pecu 
liarly  adapted  to  the  constitution  of  an  animal  which  appears  to  have  a natural 
appetency  for  rolling  and  elevated  pastures.  Or  is  it  that  the  mountains  in  Yancey 
county  for  instance,  are  almost  exclusively  covered  with  rocks  and  timber  or  wood 
affording  no  scope  either  for  the  plough  or  for  grazing?  Its  elevation  of  some  thou* 
land  feet  above  the  sea  secures  it,  without  doubt,  against  the  autumnal  diseases  of 
the  tide-water  country.  Is  it  that  the  price  of  the  land  there  forbids  investment  in  i 
with  a view  to  such  employment  of  capital  ? Or  why  is  it  that  the  swarms  of  hardy 
yeomanry  that  annually  migrate  from  the  North  should  not  settle  down  in  districts 
described  by  the  latest  and  ablest  geographical  authority,  Darby,  as  being  “ highly 
salubrious  and  well  watered,”  instead  of  wending  their  weary  way  to  regions  less 
blessed  with  health,  and  so  remote  from  the  comforts  of  denser  populations? 

If  time  will  allow  you,  Sir,  to  answer  according  to  your  knowledge  and  observa- 
tion how  far  my  impressions  are  correct,  as  to  the  resources  of  North  Carolina  in  the 
particulars  to  which  I have  adverted,  you  will  much  oblige  me  ; and  the  earlier  you 
can  favour  me  with  an  answer,  the  more  will  the  kindness  be  esteemed,  by 
Yours,  with  great  respect, 

J.  S.  SKINNER. 


House  of  Representatives , Feb.  3,  1844. 

Dear  Sir,— Your  favour  of  the  30th  ultimo  was  received  a day  or  two  since,  and 
now  avail  myself  of  the  very  first  opportunity  to  answer  it.  I do  so  most  cheerfully, 
because,  in  the  first  place,  I am  happy  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  gratify  in  any  man 
ner  one  who  has  done  so  much  as  yourself  to  diffuse  correct  information  on  subjects 
most  important  to  the  agriculture  of  the  country;  and,  secondly,  because  I feel  a 
deep  interest  in  the  subject  to  which  your  inquiries  are  directed. 

You  state  that  you  have  directed  some  attention  to  the  sheep  husbandry  of  the 
United  States,  in  the  course  of  which  it  has  occurred  to  you  that  the  people  of  the 
mountain  regions  of  North  Carolina,  and  some  of  the  other  southern  States,  have 
not  availed  themselves  sufficiently  of  their  natural  advantages  for  the  production  of 
6heep.  Being  myself  well  acquainted  with  the  western  section  of  North  Carolina,  I 
may  perhaps  be  able  to  give  you  most  of  the  information  you  desire.  As  you  have 
directed  several  of  your  inquiries  to  the  county  of  Yancey,  (I  presume  from  the  fact, 
well  known  to  you,  that  it  contains  the  highest  mountains  in  any  of  the  United 
States),  I will,  in  the  first  place,  turn  my  attention  to  that  county.  First,  as  to  its 
elevation.  Dr.  Mitchell,  of  our  University,  ascertained  that  the  bed  of  Tow  river, 
the  largest  stream  in  the  county,  and  at  a ford  near  its  centre,  was  about  twenty-two 
hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  ocean.  Burnsville,  the  seat  of  the  court-house,  he 
found  to  be  between  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  two  thousand  nine  hundred 
feet  above  it.  The  general  level  of  the  country  is,  of  course,  much  above  this  eleva 
lion.  In  fact,  a number  of  the  mountain  summits  rise  above  the  height  of  six  thou- 
sand feet.  The  climate  is  delightfully  cool  during  the  summer;  in  fact  there  are  very 
few  places  in  the  county  where  the  thermometer  rises  above  eighty  degrees  on  the 
hottest  day.  An  intelligent  gentleman  who  passed  a summer  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  county  (rather  the  more  elevated  portion  of  it)  informed  me  that  the  thermo- 
meter did  not  rise  on  the  hottest  days  above  seventy-six  degrees. 

You  ask,  in  the  next  place,  if  the  surface  of  the  ground  is  so  much  covered  with 
rocks  as  to  render  it  unfit  for  pasture?  The  reverse  is  the  fact;  no  portion  ol  the 
county  that  I have  passed  over  is  too  rocky  for  cultivation  ; and  in  many  sections 
•f  the  county  one  may  travel  miles  without  seeing  a single  stone.  It  is  only  about 


180 


SHEEP  HUSBANDRY 


the  tops  of  the  higher  mountains  that  rocky  precipices  are  to  be  found.  A large  por 
lion  of  the  surface  of  the  county  is  a sort  of  elevated  table-land,  undulating , but 
seldom  too  broken  for  cultivation.  Even  as  one  ascends  the  higher  mountains,  he 
will  find  occasionally  on  their  sides  flats  of  level  land  containing  several  hundred 
acres  in  a body.  The  top  of  the  Roan  (the  highest  mountain  in  the  county  except 
the  Rlack)  is  covered  by  a prairie  for  ten  miles,  which  affords  a rich  pasture  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  year.  The  ascent  to  it  is  so  gradual  that  persons  ride  to  the 
lop  on  horseback  from  almost  any  direction.  The  same  may  be  said  of  many  of  the 
other  mountains.  The  soil  of  the  county  generally  is  uncommonly  fertile,  producing 
with  tolerable  cultivation  abundant  crops.  What  seems  extraordinary  to  a stranger 
is  the  fact  that  the  soil  becomes  richer  as  he  ascends  the  mountains.  The  sides  of  the 
Roan,  the  Black,  the  Bald,  and  others,  at  an  elevation  even  of  five  or  six  thousand 
feet  above  the  sea,  are  covered  with  a deep  rich  vegetable  mould,  so  soft  that  a horse 
in  dry  weather  often  sinks  to  the  fetlock.  The  fact  that  the  soil  is  frequently  mor^ 
fertile  as  one  ascends  is,  I presume,  attributable  to  the  circumstance  that  the  higher 
portions  are  more  commonly  covered  with  clouds;  and  the  vegetable  matter  being 
thus  kept  in  a cool  moist  state  while  decaying,  is  incorporated  to  a greater  degree 
with  the  surface  of  the  earth,  just  as  it  is  usually  found  that  the  north  side  of  a hill 
is  richer  than  the  portion  most  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  sun’s  rays.  The  sides 
of  the  mountains,  the  timber  being  generally  large,  with  little  undergrowth  and 
brushwood,  are  peculiarly  fitted  for  pasture  grounds,  and  the  vegetation  is  in  many 
places  as  luxuriant  as  it  is  in  the  rich  savanna  of  the  low  country. 

The  soil  of  every  part  of  the  county  is  not  only  favourable  to  the  production  of 
grain,  but  is  peculiarly  fitted  for  grasses.  Timothy  is  supposed  to  make  the  largest 
yield,  two  tons  of  hay  being  easily  produced  on  an  acre,  but  herds-grass,  or  red-top. 
and  clover  succeed  equally  well ; blue  grass  has  not  been  much  tried,  but  is  said  to  do 
remarkably  well  A friend  showed  me  several  spears  which  he  informed  me  were 
produced  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  and  which  by  measurement  were  found 
to  exceed  seventy  inches  in  length.  Oats,  rye,  potatoes,  turnips,  &c.,  are  produced 
in  the  greatest  abundance. 

With  respect  to  the  prices  of  land,  I can  assure  you  that  large  bodies  of  uncleared 
rich  land,  most  of  which  might  be  cultivated,  have  been  sold  at  prices  varying  from 
twenty-five  cents  to  fifty  cents  per  acre.  Any  quantity  of  land  favourable  for  sheep- 
walks  might  be  procured  in  any  section  of  the  county  at  prices  varying  from  one  to 
ten  dollars  per  acre. 

The  few  sheep  that  exist  in  the  county  thrive  remarkably  well,  and  are  sometime# 
permitted  to  run  at  large  during  the  winter  without  being  fed  and  without  suffering. 
As  the  number  kept  by  any  individual  is  not  large  enough  to  justify  the  employment 
of  a shepherd  to  take  care  of  them,  they  are  not  unfrequently  destroyed  bv  vicious 
dogs,  and  more  rarely  by  wolves,  which  have  not  yet  been  entirely  exterminated. 

I have  been  somewhat  prolix  in  my  observations  on  this  county,  because  some  of 
your  inquiries  were  directed  particularly  to  it,  and  because  most  of  what  I have  said 
of  Yancey  is  true  of  the  other  counties  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Haywood  has  about 
the  same  elevation  and  climate  as  Yancy.  The  mountains  are  rather  more  steep, 
and  the  valleys  somewhat  broader;  the  soil  generally  not  quite  so  deep,  but  very 
productive,  especially  in  grasses.  In  some  sections  of  the  county,  however,  the  soil 
»s  equal  to  the  best  I have  seen. 

Buncombe  and  Henderson  are  rather  less  elevated;  Ashville  and  Hendersonville, 
the  county  towns,  being  each  about  two  thousand  two  hundred  fee'  above  the  &ea 


S E A S E S OF  SHEEP. 


181 


The  climate  is  much  the  same,  but  a very  little  warmer.  The  more  broken  portions 

these  counties  resemble  much  the  mountainous  parts  of  Yancey  and  Haywood, 
but  they  contain  much  more  level  land.  Indeed  the  greater  portion  of  Henderson  is 
quite  level.  It  contains  much  swamp  land,  which,  when  cleared,  with  very  little  if 
any  drainage,  produces  very  tine  crops  of  herds-grass.  Portions  of  Macon  and  Chero- 
kee counties  are  quite  as  favourable,  both  as  to  climate  and  soil,  as  those  above 
described.  I would  advert  particularly  to  the  Valley  of  the  Nantahalah,  in  Macon 
and  of  Cbeoh,  in  Cherokee.  In  either,  for  a comparatively  trifling  price,  some  ten 
or  fifteen  miles  square  could  be  procured,  all  of  which  would  be  rich,  and  the  major 
part  sufficiently  level  for  cultivation,  and  especially  fitted,  as  their  natural  meadows 
indicate,  for  the  production  of  grass. 

In  conclusion,  1 may  say,  that  as  far  as  my  limited  knowledge  of  such  matters 
authorizes  me  to  speak,  I am  satisfied  that  there  is  no  region  that  is  more  favourable 
to  the  production  of  sheep  than  much  of  the  country  I have  described.  It  is  every- 
where  healthy  and  well  watered.  I may  add,  too,  that  there  is  water-power  enough 
in  the  different  counties  composing  my  congressional  district  to  move  more  machi- 
nery than  human  labour  cai»  ever  place  there  — enough  perhaps  to  move  all  now 
existing  in  the  Union.  It  is  also  a rich  mineral  region.  The  gold  mines  are  worked 
now  to  a considerable  extent.  The  best  ores  of  iron  are  found  in  great  abundance  in 
many  places;  copper,  lead,  and  other  valuable  minerals  exist.  That  must  one  day 
become  the  great  manufacturing  region  of  the  South.  I doubt  if  capital  could  be 
ased  more  advantageously  in  any  part  of  the  Union  than  in  that  section. 

For  a number  of  years  past  the  value  of  the  live  stock  (as  ascertained  from  books 
of  the  Turnpike  Company)  that  is  driven  through  Buncombe  county,  is  from  two  to 
three  millions  of  dollars.  Most  of  this  stock  comes  from  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  and 
when  it  has  reached  Asheville  it  has  travelled  half  its  journey  to  the  more  distant 
parts  of  the  Southern  market,  viz.,  Charleston  and  Savannah.  The  citizens  of  my 
district,  therefore,  can  get  their  live  stock  into  the  planting  States  south  of  us  at  one- 
half  the  expense  which  those  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio  are  obliged  to  incur.  Not  only 
sheep,  but  hogs,  horses,  mules,  and  horned  cattle  can  be  produced  in  many  portions 
of  my  district  as  cheaply  as  in  those  two  States.  This  must  ere  long  become  the 
great  manufacturing  region  of  the  South,  &c. 

I have  thus,  sir,  hastily  endeavoured  to  comply  with  your  request,  because  you 
state  that  you  would  like  to  have  the  information  at  once.  Should  you  find  my  sketch 
of  the  region  a very  unsatisfactory  and  imperfect  one,  I hope  you  will  do  me  the 
favour  to  remember  that  the  desk  of  a member  during  a debate  is  not  the  most  favour- 
able position  for  writing  an  essay. 

With  very  great  respect,  yours,  • 


J.  S.  Skinner,  Esq. 


T.  L.  CLINGMAN. 


As  to  the  usual  weight  of  the  carcass  of  the  South-down  and  of  the 
fleece,  as  well  as  of  the  value  of  the  Cotswold  compared  with  that  of 
the  Merino,  it  may  be  useful  to  state  that,  according  to  the  most  recent 
information  to  be  fully  relied  on,  Mr.  Bement’s  ewes,  (near  Albany, 
New  York),  about  seventy-five  in  number,  averaged  last  year  three 
and  a half  pounds  washed  wool  per  head  — Mr.  Mclntire’s  about  the 
same.  The  South-down  wool  sold  at  Albany  last  year  at  twenty- 
eight  to  thirty  cents  per  pound,  where  at  the  same  time  Merino  woo. 
sold  for  thirty-four  to  thirty-six. 

16 


SIIEEP  HUSBANDRY 


The  carcass  of  the  improved  South-down,  fatted,  may  be  put  down 
at  eighteen  to  twenty-five  pounds  the  quarter.  Mr.  Mclntire  killed, 
as  before  stated,  a cross-breed  Cotswold  and  South-down  wether  last 
year,  that  weighed,  dressed,  with  the  head  on,  two  hundred  and  ten 
pounds.  He  sold  one  very  recently  that  weighed  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  pounds.  Mr.  Bement’s  price  for  fourteen  — all  he 
has  for  sale  — South-down  ewes,  a year  old  this  spring,  which  have 
not  been  tupped,  is  twelve  dollars  a head ; and  a buck  to  accompany 
them  at  the  same  price.  Mr.  Mclntire’s  price  for  ten  ewes  that  will 
have  lambs  in  April,  is  seventeen  dollars  a head,  and  will  put  in  a 
good  buck  at  same  price.  This  statement  is  made  for  the  benefit  of 
readers  not  residing  in  the  neighbourhood  of  flocks  of  sheep  of  this 
kind  The  demand  for  all  kinds  of  improved  sheep  is  increasing, 
»nd  will  increase  in  the  south-west. 


O*  ¥HI 


DISEASES  OE  SHEEP. 


This  has  been  a sadly  neglected  branch  of  veterinary  inquiry  and 
practice.  The  nature  and  treatment  of  the  diseases  of  sheep  form 
’little  or  no  part  of  the  instruction  given  in  some  of  our  veterinary 
schools,  and  seldom  come  under  the  cognizance  of  the  surgeon  after- 
wards. The  shepherd  undertakes  the  treatment  of  foot-rot,  and  scab 
and  hoove;  and  with  regard  to  the  other  maladies  to  which  this 
animal  is  subject,  they  are  either  suffered  to  take  their  course,  or,  if  a 
veterinary  practitioner  is  ever  employed,  it  is  when  the  disease  is 
firmly  established,  or  the  whole  flock  infected,  and  medical  aid  is 
fruitless.  This  is  much  to  be  lamented,  and  very  absurd ; for  although 
an  individual  sheep  may  not  be  worth  much,  yet  a numerous  flock 
forms  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  farmer’s  wealth,  and  the  fre- 
quent mortality  among  these  animals  is  a very  serious  loss  to  him. 

The  internal  structure  of  the  sheep  so  nearly  resembles  that  of  the 
ox,  that  I will  content  myself  with  referring  to  the  anatomy  of  the  ox, 
as  described  in  the  early  part  of  this  work.  The  diseases  of  both  have 
a very  great  resemblance  in  their  nature  and  cause,  and  progress,  and 
medical  treatment.  The  same  drugs  are  administered  to  both.  Thera 
cannot  be  a better  purgative  for  sheep  than  Epsom  salts  : there  is  no 
better  fever  medicine  than  the  digitalis,  emetic  tartar,  and  nitre.  The 
principal  difference  is  in  the  quantity  to  be  administered ; a sixth  or 
eighth  part  of  the  usual  dose  for  cattle  will  be  sufficient  for  the  sheep 
The  quantity  of  blood  taken  will  depend  on  the  size  of  the  animal 
and  the  nature  of  the  disease.  Four  ounces  would  be  a fair  average 
bleeding  from  a lamb,  and  a pint  from  a full-grown  sheep.  Shepherds 
are  apt  to  bleed  from  the  eye- vein;  but  the  blood  generally  flows 
slowly,  and,  after  all,  the  proper  quantity  will  not  always  be  obtained. 
The  best  place  for  bleeding  is  from  the  jugular,  as  in  cattle.  A liga- 
ture should  be  tied  round  the  neck,  and  then  the  vein  will  rise  so 
evidently  that  it  cannot  possibly  be  mistaken.  The  vein  should  be 
opened  with  the  lancet  commonly  used  for  the  human  being:  the 
orifice  should  be  large,  and  the  blood  obtained  as  quickly  as  possible. 


13 


183 


184 


THE  LAMBING  SEASON 


SECTION  I. 

THE  LAMBING  SEASON. 

The  ewe  goes  with  lamb  five  months.  The  general  time  of  year* 
ing  is  about  ths  end  of  March,  but  in  some  of  the  western  counties, 
and  particularly  in  Dorsetshire,  by  which  the  metropolis  and  many 
of  the  towns  in  the  west  are  principally  supplied  with  house-lamb,  it 
is  so  contrived  that  the  lambs  shall  be  dropped  in  the  middle  or  even 
the  beginningof  February.  With  the  best  care  a great  deal  of  danger 
attends  this  early  lambing,  and  even  at  a later  period  a few  cold  nights 
are  fatal  to  many  of  the  lambs.  There  is  nothing  that  requires  more 
reformation  than  the  treatment  both  of  the  ewe  and  the  lamb  at  the 
»ime  of  yeaning. 

During  the  time  of  gestation  more  attention  is  required  than  is 
generally  paid.  To  enable  the  ewe  to  produce  her  lamb  with  com- 
parative safety,  she  should  not  be  too  well  fed.  One  of  the  most 
prevalent  causes  of  puerperal  fever,  or  dropping  after  calving,  in  the 
cow,  is  her  too  high  condition.  It  is  more  particularly  so  with  the 
ewe ; and  there  are  few  things  that  the  farmer  should  be  more  careful 
about  than  that  the  fair,  but  not  unusual  of  forced,  condition  of  the 
animal  is  preserved.  A week  or  two  before  the  time,  a little  better 
keep  may  be  useful  in  order  to  give  them  sufficient  strength  for  the 
lambing.  It  is  a kind  of  middle  course  which  the  farmer  has  to  pur- 
sue, and  the  path  is  not  very  difficult  to  trace:  too  high  condition  will 
dispose  to  fever;  on  the  other  hand,  with  too  poor  keep  the  ewe  will 
not  have  sufficient  strength  to  go  through  the  process  safely,  nor  will 
she  have  milk  enough  for  the  lambs.  If  the  dam  has  not  sufficient 
support  previously,  the  lamb  will  be  weakly  when  it  is  dropped,  and 
will  not  thrive  well  afterwards. 

When  the  time  of  yeaning  approaches,  a little  care  may  prevent  a 
very  great  loss  to  the  farmer.  The  ewes  should  be  brought  as  nearly 
home  as  possible.  They  should  be  sheltered  from  the  wind,  if  it  be 
only  by  a high  and  thick  hedge;  but  a kind  of  shed,  however  rudely 
constructed,  would  abundantly  pay  the  expense  of  building  it.  At 
night,  particularly,  they  should  be  folded  in  some  sheltered  place. 

At  the  period  of  lambing  the  shepherd  should  be  far  more  attentive 
than  he  is  frequently  found  to  be,  and  especially  than  he  is  if  the  pelt 
of  the  dead  lamb  is  absurdly  made  his  perquisite.  If  the  master’ a 
loss  is  the  servant’s  gain,  it  will  not  be  surprising  if  casualties  occur. 
A reward,  increasing  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  ewes  and  lambs 
saved,  would  do  more  than  any  other  thing  to  save  both  the  dam  and 
ner  offspring.  The  care  of  the  farmer  or  lamber  will  vary  a great 
deal  according  to  the  period  of  the  year  and  the  state  of  the  weather. 
In  the  early  lambing  the  greatest  losses  are  at  the  beginning:  they 
'arise  principally  from  cold.  In  March  or  April  the  latter  part  of  the 


THE  LAMBING  SEASON,  185 

.ambing  season  is  most  dangerous,  for  there  is  more  abundant  keep 

and  more  tendency  to  inflammation. 

The  clatting  of  the  ewes  is  a very  useful  practice  now.  They  are 
thrown,  and  a portion  of  the  wool  is  removed  from  their  tails  and 
udders.  The  sticking  together  of  the  wool  from  the  purging  to  which 
the  ewe  is  often  subject  in  the  early  part  of  the  spring,  when  the  grass 
is  fresh,  has  lost  many  a lamb.  When  the  udders  are  thus  cleaned, 
the  lamber  will  more  easily  perceive  the  stain  on  the  part,  which,  and 
which  alone,  will  sometimes  tell  him  whether  the  ewe  has  yeaned : 
for  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  a young  ewe  to  desert  her  lamb,  and 
be  found  grazing  with  the  rest  of  the  flock  as  unconcernedly  as  if  no- 
thing had  happened. 

An  experienced  lamber  will  almost  always  tell  when  the  ewe  is 
abr  A to  yean.  If  he  finds  her  soon  afterwards  taken  with  labour 
pains,  and  they  continue  to  succeed  each  other  regularly,  and  she 
remains  lying  down,  he  will  take  great  care  not  to  disturb  her;  but 
if  a couple  of  hours  pass,  and  the  lamb  is  not  produced,  he  carefully 
examines  her.  If  the  nose  and  the  tips  of  the  toes  have  presented 
themselves,  and  the  lamb  seems  to  be  in  a proper  position,  but  the 
head  is  large,  or  the  passage  is  narrow,  he  leaves  her  again  for  an- 
other hour;  but  if  there  is  evidently  a false  presentation,  he  introduces 
one  or  two  fingers,  or  his  hand,  well  guarded  with  oil,  puts  the  young 
one  in  the  proper  position,  and  nature  speedily  effects  the  rest. 

The  principal  art  of  the  lamber  is  to  know  when  he  should  inter- 
fere. In  every  case  of  false  presentation  his  help  should  be  ready 
and  immediate ; but  otherwise  he  should  very  rarely  meddle  with  the 
ewe,  except  the  mother  is  nearly  exhausted,  or  the  life  of  the  young 
one  appears  to  be  in  danger.  One  moment’s  observation  will  discover 
the  state  of  the  mother;  and  the  degree  of  protrusion  of  the  tongue 
of  the  young  one,  and  its  colour,  will  not  often  deceive  with  regard 
to  him.  When  the  tongue  hangs  far  from  the  mouth,  and  is  getting 
livid  or  black,  it  is  high  time  for  the  lamber  to  interfere. 

The  lamber  should  use  as  little  violence  as  possible ; but  then  he 
should  recollect  that  the  ewe  will  often  bear  a great  deal  of  force  be- 
ing  applied  without  the  slightest  injury  to  her,  and  sometimes  with 
no  great  danger  to  the  little  one.  The  exhausted  state  of  the  one  or 
the  other  will  regulate  the  degree  of  force.  When  there  is  much  ex- 
haustion, no  time  is  to  be  lost,  and  some  strength  should  be  applied 
in  the  extrication  of  the  lamb. 

The  state  of  the  weather,  too,  will  somewhat  regulate  this.  I 
cold  weather  more  time  may  be  allowed.  The  process  of  parturitio 
is  then  slower.  In  warm  weather  there  is  more  tendency  to  fever 
and  the  ewe  should  not  be  suffered  to  exhaust  herself  too  much. 

Unnatural  presentations  are  often  very  awkward  things  to  have  to 
do  with.  The  ewe  should  be  driven  into  the  pound,  and  after  having 
rested  a few  minutes,  some  of  the  fingers,  or  the  hand,  if  it  is  small, 
should  be  introduced  into  the  vagina.  If  only  one  leg  presents,  and 
the  shoulder  thus  forms  an  obstruction,  the  other  leg  will  generally 


186 


THE  LAMBING  SEASON. 


oe  easily  laid  hold  of  and  brought  down.  If  the  neck  is  bent,  and 
the  crown  of  the  head  presents  itself,  it  may  be  pushed  back,  and  the 
two  fore-paws  brought  into  the  passage,  and  then  the  muzzle  will 
naturally  follow.  If  the  foetus  lies  sideways,  the  cord  and  the  posi- 
tion of  the  legs  will  enable  the  shepherd  to  distinguish  between  the 
spine  and  the  belly.  The  turning  is  sometimes  a difficult  thing  ; but 
practice  will  often  give  the  larnber  a great  deal  of  cleverness  in  this 
operation. 

In  extreme  cases,  and  when  the  lamb  is  evidently  dead,  it  may  be 
necessary  to  introduce  a blunt-pointed  knife  into  the  uterus,  and  cut 
the  little  animal  to  pieces.  The  greatest  care  must  be  taken  that  the 
mother  is  not  wounded,  for  that  would  produce  inevitable  death. 
When  the  lamb  has  been  thus  taken  away  piecemeal,  a little  physic — 
an  ounce  of  Epsom  salts,  with  a few  grains  of  ginger  — should  be 
given  to  the  mother,  who  should  then  be  left  undisturbed  for  several 
hours. 

The  ewe,  and  especially  if  she  was  in  high  condition,  is  occasion- 
ally subject  to  after-pains.  Some  of  the  country-people  call  it  heaving. 
It  continues  many  hours,  and  sometimes  exhausts  and  destroys  the 
animal.  It  is  particularly  dangerous  if  she  has  been  too  well  kept, 
and  much  force  has  been  used  in  extracting  the  lamb.  Twenty  drops 
of  laudanum  should  be  given  in  a little  gruel,  and  repeated  every  se- 
cond hour  until  the  pains  abate.  It  will  always  be  prudent  to  bleed 
the  ewe  if  she  is  not  better  soon  after  the  second  dose  of  the  lauda- 
num. 

The  womb  is  sometimes  forced  out  of  the  orifice  when  great  force 
has  been  used  in  extracting  the  lamb.  It  must,  if  necessary,  be 
cleaned  with  warm  water,  and  carefully  returned  by  a person  with  a 
small  hand.  Gentle  and  continued  pressure  will  effect  this  much 
sooner  and  safer  than  the  application  of  the  greatest  force.  It  will, 
however,  again  protrude  if  a couple  of  stitches  with  tolerably  strong 
twine  are  not  passed  through  the  lips  of  the  orifice.  If  the  womb  is 
thus  returned  before  it  has  been  much  bruised  or  inflamed  by  hanging 
out,  there  will  be  little  danger  to  the  mother,  and  she  may  suckle  her 
lamb  as  usual.  When  she  has  accomplished  that,  she  should  be 
fattened,  for  the  same  accident  would  almost  certainly  happen  at  her 
next  parturition. 

Attention  should  now  be  paid  to  the  lamb,  and  it  requires  it  even 
more  than  the  mother.  It  is  want  of  care  that  causes  the  loss  of  moie 
than  four-fifths  of  the  dead  lambs.  The  principal  evil  is  exposure  to 
cold.  If  the  weather  is  severe,  great  numbers  of  lambs  are  often  lost 
m a single  night.  A few  hurdles  with  straw,  or  a warm  quick  hedge, 
or  a shed  for  them  to  go  into,  would  save  the  greater  part  of  them. 
The  farmer  needs  but  to  use  a little  observation  in  order  to  be  con- 
vinced how  eagerly  the  ewes  and  the  lambs  seek  that  shelter,  and 
how  safe  they  are  compared  with  others  that  are  exposed.  Some 
breeds  are  more  hardy  than  others,  but  the  hardiest  of  them  will  not 
endure  absurd  and  cruel  neglect  and  exposure.  Let  the  farmer  think 


THE  L'AMBING  SEASON. 


ia7 


of  the  sudden  change  from  the  warmth  of  the  mother’s  womb  to  the 
driving  sleet,  and  the  cold  wet  ground  : he  will  not  wonder  that  so 
many  of  his  lambs  are  palsied  and  starved  to  death. 

The  lambs  are  not  quite  out  of  danger  when  a day  or  two  has 
passed  after  they  have  dropped.  They  live  for  the  first  week  or  fort* 
night  on  the  mother’s  milk,  and  then  begin  to  imitate  their  parent 
and  graze  a little ; indeed  they  have  not  their  teeth  up  to  enable  them 
to  graze  at  first.  They  should  not  be  put  on  too  good  pasture  at  this 
early  period,  for  the  change  of  food  is  often  dangerous.  A lamb  of  a 
fortnight  old  will  often  sicken  suddenly,  refuse  the  teat,  cease  to 
ruminate,  swell,  heave,  and  die,  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours.  On 
being  examined,  the  stomach  will  sometimes  be  found  enormously 
distended,  at  other  times  there  will  be  little  food  in  it,  but  there  always 
is  a great  deal  of  bile  in  the  upper  intestines,  with  inflammation  there, 
the  evident  cause  of  death,  and  produced  by  the  change  of  food.  Those 
who  die  at  this  early  period  are  often  called  gall-lambs,  from  the  great 
quantity  of  bile  found  in  their  intestines.  When,  at  thfee  or  four 
months  old,  the  lamb  is  perfectly  weaned,  he  is  subject  to  a similar 
complaint,  and  from  a similar  cause.  The  lamb  should  certainly  have 
better  pasture  when  he  is  deprived  of  his  mother’s  milk,  but  the 
change  should  not  be  sudden  and  violent. 

Physic  will  evidently  be  required  here,  such  as  Epsom  salts  in 
doses  of  half  an  ounce  every  second  or  third  day;  and  if  there  is 
much  swelling,  the  stomach-pump  will  be  used  with  advantage,  both 
in  extricating  the  gas,  and  in  injecting  warm  water  into  the  stomach 
with  an  intention  either  to  cause  vomiting  or  to  wash  out  the  contents 
of  the  stomach. 

The  operation  of  castration  is  a very  simple  one  in  the  sheep,  and 
yet  is  often  attended  with  danger,  sometimes  resulting  from  the  un- 
skilfulness of  the  operator,  and  at  other  times  from  some  unfriendly 
state  of  the  atmosphere.  I have  known  on  the  same  farm,  and  the 
same  gelder  being  employed,  that  in  one  year  not  a lamb  has  been 
lost,  and  in  the  following  year  several  scores.  Generally  speaking, 
however,  the  fatal  result  is  to  be  attributed  to  bad  management.  The 
younger  the  lambs  are  the  better,  provided  they  are  not  very  weak. 
From  ten  days  to  a fortnight  seems  to  be  the  most  proper  time,  or,  I 
may  say,  as  soon  as  the  testicles  can  be  laid  hold  of.  I would  advise 
the  farmer  never  to  set  apart  a day  when  the  whole  or  the  greater 
part  of  his  male  lambs  are  to  undergo  the  operation,  for  many  of  them 
will  then  be  too  old,  and  he  will  assuredly  lose  some  of  them.  He 
should  take  them  as  soon  as  they  are  ready,  although  there  may  be 
only  a few  at  a time. 

The  lamb  being  well  secured,  the  scrotum  or  bag  is  to  be  grasped 
in  one  hand  high  up,  and  the  testicles  pushed  down  as  low  as  possi- 
ble : two  incisions  are  then  to  be  made  across  the  bag  at  tbe  bottom 
of  it,  and  the  testicles  forced  out.  The  gelder  now  often  takes  the 
stones  between  his  teeth,  and  bites  the  cord  asunder.  This  is  a nasty 
and  a cruel  way  of  proceeding.  The  better  way  is  to  draw  the  testi 


188 


DISEASES  OF  YOUNG  LAMBS. 


cles  down  an  inch  or  more  from  the  scrotum,  and  then  to  cut  through 
the  cord  close  to  the  scrotum  with  a knife  that  is  not  very  sharp. 
Scarcely  a drop  of  blood  follows  when  the  cord  is  thus  separated  ; 
the  end  of  the  cord  retracts  into  the  bag,  and  there  is  not  half  the 
danger  of  inflammation  which  there  is  when  the  cord  is  gnawed  ana 
torn  by  the  teeth. 

Except  the  lambs  are  very  weakly,  and  the  ewes  much  exhausted 
and  emaciated,  it  will  not  be  requisite  to  give  any  medicine  after 
yeaning.  In  the  great  majority  of  cases  the  animals  will  do  a great 
deal  better  without  it.  Should,  however,  tonic  medicine  be  necessary, 
I know  nothing  better  than  the  following: — 

RECIPE  (No.  1). 

Take  gentian  root,  powdered,  one  drachm  ; caraway  powder,  half  a drachm;  tine 
lure  of  caraway,  ten  drops.  Give  in  a quarter  of  a pint  of  thick  gruel. 

If  the  ewes  will  not  feed  well  at  all,  they  should  be  forced  with 
good  gruel,  and  the  best  is  made  of  equal  parts  of  oat  and  linseed 
meal. 


SECTION  II. 

THE  DISEASES  OF  YOUNG  LAMBS. 

These  are  numerous,  and  many  of  them  dangerous ; some  belong- 
ing exclusively  to  the  period  which  I have  been  describing,  and  others 
often  occurring  when  the  animals  get  a little  older. 

COAGULATION  OF  THE  MILK. 

I have  spoken  of  this  when  treating  of  the  diseases  of  calves.  The 
lamb  is,  if  possible,  more  subject  to  this  curdling  of  the  milk  than 
the  calf  is,  and  it  carries  off  the  finest  and  best  of  the  flock.  The 
farmer  likes  to  see  his  lambs  growing  fast ; but  it  is  possible  to  make 
more  haste  than  good  speed.  The  lamb  may  have  excess  of  nutri- 
ment, and  particularly  of  its  mother’s  milk.  When  a lamb  thrives  at 
an  extraordinary  rate,  the  bag  of  the  mother  should  be  examined,  and 
if  it  is  too  large  and  full,  it  will  be  prudent  to  milk  away  daily  a little 
of  its  contents  ; otherwise  the  yet  weak  stomach  of  the  young  animal 
may  have  more  coagulated  milk  in  it  than  it  can  digest.  All  the  milk 
that  is  swallowed  by  the  young  lamb  coagulates  in  the  stomach,  and 
if  it  accumulates  too  fast,  the  stomach  will  become  perfectly  choked 
with  it,  and  the  lamb  will  be  destroyed.  Two  pounds  of  curdled  milk 
have  been  found  in  the  stomach  of  a lamb.  When  a thriving  lamb, 
with  a healthy  mother  having  a full  bag,  begins  all  at  once  to  be  dull, 
and  stands  panting  and  distressed,  and  can  scarcely  be  induced  to 
move,  and  is  considerably  swelled,  it  is  probably  from  this  cause. 

In  this  disease  there  is  often  apparent  purging  of  a light  colouii 


DIARRHG3A.  18P 

which  is  in  fact  the  whey  passing  off  whilst  the  curd  accumulates 
and  produces  obstinate  constipation. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  administer  an  alkali,  to  dissolve 
the  mass,  such  as  magnesia,  in  doses  of  half  an  ounce  twice  a day ; 
after  which  two  to  four  drachms  of  Epsom  salts,  with  a little  ginger, 
dissolved  in  warm  water,  and  the  warm  water  often  repeated,  if  ne- 
cessary, by  means  of  the  stomach-pump.  The  farmer  with  a valuable 
flock  of  sheep  will  find  the  stomach-pump  as  useful  for  them  as  for 
cattle.  When  the  bowels  have  thus  been  opened,  and  the  curdled 
milk  has  in  some  measure  passed  off,  the  stomach  may  be  strength- 
ened by  occasional  doses  of  the  Tonic  Drink  for  Cattle  (No.  32,  p. 
81).  The  ewe  and  lamb  should  then  be  turned  into  scantier  pasture 

DIARRHOEA. 

There  is  not  a more  destructive  disease  among  young  lambs  than 
this.  It  frequently  attacks  them  when  they  are  not  more  than  a day 
old,  and  carries  them  off  in  the  course  of  another  day.  Oftener  it  does 
not  appear  until  they  are  nearly  a week  old,  and  the  lambs  have  not 
then  a much  better  chance : but  if  they  are  two  or  three  m mths  old, 
and  have  gained  a little  strength,  they  may,  perhaps,  weather  the 
disease.  The  causes  are  various,  but  not  always  difficult  to  discover: 
they  are  generally  referrible  to  the  neglect  and  mismanagement  of  the 
farmer.  It  may  be  the  consequence  of  absurd  and  cruel  exposure  to 
cold.  For  sheep  generally,  and  more  particularly  for  lambs,  I once 
more  repeat  it,  and  I would  impress  it  on  the  mind  of  the  farmer  and 
the  practitioner,  snelter  and  comfort  are  the  first  and  grand  things  to 
be  considered.  I do  not  mean  confinement  in  a close  and  ill-ventilated 
place,  but  that  defence  from  the  wind  and  snow  which  it  would  cost 
the  farmer  little  to  raise,  and  for  which  he  would  be  amply  paid  in 
one  season.  If  it  probably  arises  from  cold,  the  remedy  is  plain  — 
better  shelter,  and,  tor  a few  days,  housing. 

It  is  sometimes  attributable  to  want  of  proper  support : the  ewe,  if 
it  is  her  first  lamb,  may  have  deserted  it,  or  she  may  have  little  milk 
to  give  it;  and  the  combined  influence  of  starvation  and  cold  produces 
diarrhoea  sooner  than  anything  else.*  Warmth  and  new  cow’s  milk 
are  the  best  remedies. 

Not  unfrequently  the  mother’s  milk  seems  to  disagree  with  the 
lamb.  It  is  naturally  aperient.  It  may  occasionally  be  too  much  so. 
If  her  teats  are  full,  and  she  evidently  has  plenty  of  milk,  this  will 
probably  be  the  case.  She  should  be  fed  on  dry  meat  for  a day  or 
two,  or  should  be  turned  out  only  during  the  day,  and  housed  at  night, 

* [Mr.  S.  W.  Jewett,  of  Weybridge,  Vermont,  says — “ It  is  generally  caused  by 
mating  raw  or  early  cut  hay.  The  best  method  to  cure  or  prevent  is  to  give  them 
laity  a few  messes  of  wheat  in  the  sheaf ; a regular  quantity  of  salt  at  all  times.  If 
t occurs  in  the  winter,  steep,  in  brine,  ripe  hay  in  the  seed;  wheat  chaff  is  good,  as 
is  a small  quantity  of  oats,  and  a few  pine  or  hemlock 'tops.  Keep  them  a few  day* 
•n  ripe  hay,  or  corn  fodder.  — S.j 


190 


DISEASES  OF  YOUNG  LAMBS. 


when  sne  snould  be  allowed  a little  hay.  While  the  food  is  altered 
the  bowels  should  be  well  cleansed.  There  may  be  something  amiss 
about  the  ewe,  which  causes  the  milk  to  be  thus  purgative  and  un- 
wholesome. The  best  purgative  for  sheep  is  the  following : — 
RECIPE  (No.  2). 

Purging  Drink  for  Sheep. — 1' ake  Epsom  salts,  two  ounces  ; powdered  caraways,  • 
quarter  of  an  ounce;  warm  thin  gruel  sufficient  to  dissolve  the  salts. 

This  being  given  to  the  mother  will  likewise  be  of  service  to  the 
lamb,  by  helping  to  carry  off  any  acidities  or  crudities  from  the  sto- 
mach or  bowels. 

In  a disease  so  fatal,  and  which  runs  its  course  so  rapidly,  no  time 
is  to  be  lost,  and  therefore  astringent  medicine  should  be  administer- 
ed to  the  lamb  as  speedily  as  possible. 

RECIPE  (No.  3). 

Astringent  Drink  for  Lambs. — Take  compound  chalk  powder  with  opium,  a drachm; 
gentian,  a scruple  ; essence  of  peppermint,  three  drops.  Mix  with  a little  thin  starch, 
and  give  morning  and  night. 

If  the  animal  should  still  linger  on,  and  the  purging  should  not  be 
much  abated,  it  is  probable  that  the  milk  of  the  mother  is  most  in* 
fault.  The  lamb  should  then  be  taken  from  her,  and  fed  with  cow’s 
milk  boiled,  to  every  pint  of  which  a scruple  of  prepared  chalk  has 
been  added,  the  astringent  drink  being  continued  as  before. 

If  the  purging  abates,  the  medicine  should  be  immediately  sus- 
pended, or  not  given  so  frequently,  lest  cost.iveness  should  follow,  a 
disease  which  I shall  presently  describe,  and  which  is  also  very  fatal. 

The  lamb  with  diarrhoea  should  be  docked  on  the  first  appearance 
of  the  disease,  if  the  operation  had  not  been  previously  performed, 
ind  the  hair  should  be  carefully  cut  away  under  the  tail,  otherwise  it 
s liable  to  become  clotted.  It  will  adhere  together,  and  form  an 
obstruction  about  the  anus,  so  that  the  faeces  cannot  be  discharged. 
The  least  ill  consequence  of  this  will  be  very  great  soreness  about 
the  part;  but  in  many  cases  the  animal  will  die  in  consequence  of  the 
obstruction,  before  the  existence  of  it  is  suspected. 

The  colour  of  the  discharge  will  considerably  influence  the  mode 
of  treatment.  If  it  is  of  an  olive-green  colour,  the  drink  should  be 
persevered  in;  and  on  every  third  day  half  a table-spoonful  of  castoi 
oil  should  be  administered.  If  it  is  of  a white  colour,  it  may  probably 
proceed  from  coagulation  of  the  milk,  and  should  be  treated  as  advised 
in  a previous  page. 

If  the  lamb  is  two  or  three  months  old,  the  medicine  should  be 
correspondingly  increased,  and  he  has  a better  chance:  if  he  is  five 
or  six  months  old,  he  will  only  be  lost  through  the  negligence  of  the 
farmer  or  attendant.  The  same  means  must  be  pursued  ; but  another 
thing  must  be  added,  and  that  of  the  greatest  importance, — a change 
of  pasture  from  a succulent  to  a bare  and  dry  one.  The  removal  to  a 
stubble-field  is  a frequent  and  very  successful  practice. 


COSTI  VENESS. STAGGERS 


191 


COSTIVENESS. 

When  no  evacuation  appears  to  he  effected,  but  the  animal  is  con- 
tinually straining,  two  circumstances  must  be  carefully  examined 
into,  — first,  whether  there  is  the  obstruction  of  which  1 have  just 
spoken,  utterly  preventing  the  discharge  of  the  dung,  and  a speedy 
remedy  being  at  hand,  namely,  the  removal  of  the  clotted  wool;  or 
whether,  after  the  straining,  some  drops  of  liquid  faeces  may  not  be 
perceived  : this,  although  often  mistaken  for  costiveness,  clearly  in- 
dicates a very  different  state  of  the  bowels  ; they  are  actually  relaxed, 
* — too  much  so,  and  the  straining  results  from  irritation  about  the 
anus. 

Actual  costiveness,  however,  is  not  an  unfrequent  complaint,  and 
must  be  speedily  attacked;  for  it  is  either  the  accompaniment  of 
fever,  or  it  will  very  speedily  lead  on  to  fever.  The  existence  of  fever 
should  be  carefully  inquired  into  . heaving  of  the  flanks,  restlessness* 
and  heat  of  the  mouth,  will  be  sufficient  indications  of  it.  Bleeding 
in  proportion  to  the  degree  of  fever,  and  the  age  and  strength  of  the 
lamb,  should  then  be  had  recourse  to.  Next,  the  bowels  must  be 
opened ; one-fourth  of  the  Purging  Drink  (No.  2,  p.  200)  will  be  the 
best  thing  that  can  be  given,  and  it  should  be  repeated  every  sixth 
hour  until  the  desired  effect  is  produced.  The  lamb  should  be  turned 
into  greener  and  more  succulent  pasture,  and  especially  where  there 
*s  any  fresh  flush  of  grass;  and  if,  after  a while,  he  should  altogether 
refuse  to  eat,  he  may  be  drenched  with  gruel,  in  which  a little  Epsom 
salts  should  always  be  dissolved.  While  this  affords  nutriment,  it 
will  cool  the  animal,  and  open  the  bowels. 

STAGGERS. 

Many  lambs  are  lost  from  this  disease,  and  the  farmer  most  cer- 
tainly has  here  no  one  to  blame  but  himself.  It  attacks  the  most 
thriving  lambs,  and  especially  when  they  are  about  three  or  four 
months  old ; and  it  arises  from  the  farmer  making  a great  deal  more 
haste  than  usual  in  fattening  them  for  the  market.  It  resembles  the 
blood  in  cattle,  and  is  usually  produced  by  the  same  causes. 

The  lamb  will  appear  to  be  in  perfect  health.  All  at  once  he  will 
stand  still,  heaving  violently  at  the  flanks,  and  with  the  head  pro- 
truded ; or  he  will  wander  about  with  great  uncertainty  in  his  walk 
and  manner:  he  will  then  all  at  once  fall  down  and  lie  struggling 
upon  his  back  until  he  is  helped  up,  or  dies.  Sometimes  he  is  very 
much  convulsed. 

Bleeding  must  he  resorted  to  immediately,  and  afterwards  the 
bowels  well  opened  by  means  of  the  Purging  Drink.  To  this  some 
cooling  febrifuge  medicine  should  succeed. 

RECIPE  (No.  4). 

Cooling  Fever  Drink.— Take  powdered  diiritalis,  one  scruple;  emetic  tartar,  ten 
grains;  nitre,  two  drachms.  Mix  with  thick  gruel,  and  let  it  be  given  twice 
day. 


192 


DISEASES  OF  SI1EEE. 


On  examination  after  death,  the  head  will  be  found  to  be  the  pnn 
cipal  part  diseased  : the  vessels  of  the  brain  will  be  distended  with 
blood,  and  there  will  sometimes  be  water  in  the  ventricles. 

I have  seen  half  a dozen  lambs  in  staggers  in  the  same  field  at  the 
same  time.  They  had  all  been  exposed  to  the  same  cause ; and  when 
the  disease  had  begun  in  one  or  two,  it  spread  among  the  rest  by  the 
strange,  and  often  too  powerful,  influence  of  sympathy. 


SECTION  III. 

RED-WATER, 

The  disease  recognised  under  this  name  is  very  different  from  that 
described  in  the  cow,  for  here  it  consists  in  an  accumulation  of  red- 
dish-coloured  fluid  (whence  its  name  is  derived)  in  the  cavity  of  the 
abdomen,  and  frequently  in  the  chest  and  heart-hag  likewise.  This 
water  accumulates  in  consequence  of  inflamrnaiion  of  the  serous 
membrane  which  lines  these  cavities.  In  many  places  the  disease  is 
termed  water-braxy . It  is  most  prevalent  at  the  latter  end  of  autumn 
cr  the  beginning  of  winter,  and  is  generally  observed  among  sheep 
that  are  in  the  most  thriving  condition,  and  especially  if  they  have 
been  turned  into  new  and  rich  pasture,  and  by  the  side  of  a copse  or 
wood.  Sometimes  it  is  very  sudden  in  its  attack,  and  speedily  fatal. 
In  some  fine  flocks  I have  seen  it  destroy  the  animal  in  twenty-four 
hours.  In  other  cases  it  is  less  violent,  and  also  slow  in  its  progress. 
The  sheep  is  first  observed  to  be  off  its  feed,  dull,  disinclined  to  move : 
it  loiters  behind,  and  pants,  and  is  restless.  The  flanks  are  tucked 
up,  and  there  is  often  costiveness,  though  sometimes  purging.  This 
disease  is  still  more  common  in  lambs  than  in  sheep,  and  in  them 
often  appears  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  when  they  are  first  put  on 
turnips  with  the  ewes.  In  farms  where  pasturage  is  scarce,  this  dis- 
ease is  a very  frequent  visitor,  and  may  he  considered  to  be  produced 
by  the  application  of  cold,  either  externally  or  internally,  or  probably 
both. 

In  the  treatment  of  this  disease  it  is  very  important  to  remove  the 
animal  to  a dry  and  comfortable  situation.  Bleeding  should  then  be 
freely  employed  and  a laxative  administered. 

RECIPE  (No.  5). 

Take  Epsom  salts,  one  ounce;  ginger,  one  scruple;  gentian,  one  drachm;  warm 
water,  two  ounces ; linseed  oil,  one  ounce.  The  above  may  be  given,  either  alone  or 
with  gruel,  to  a full-grown  sheep,  and  from  one-fourth  to  one-half  to  a lamb,  accord- 
ing to  its  age. 

In  addition  to  this  the  abdomen  should  be  well  fomented  with  hot 
water — a iamb,  indeed,  may  be  placed  altogether  in  a warm  hath. 

Every  shepherd  should  have  a little  horn,  made  of  that  of  a sheep, 
and  which  will  hold  about  the  usual  quantity  of  medicine  given  as  a 


THE  BLOOD. 


70S 

drink;  or  at  least  the  quantity  which  the  horn  will  hold  should  be 
carefully  ascertained,  and  then  a large  bottle  of  the  mixture  may  be 
taken  into  the  field,  and  the  proper  dose  given  to  as  many  of  the  sheep 
as  may  seem  to  require  it.  without  the  trouble  of  measuring  it  every 

time. 

If  the  animal  recover,  a change  of  food  must  be  afforded,  and  a 
short  sweet  pasture  should  be  preferred. 


SECTION  IV. 

THE  BLOOD. 

This  is  a disease  too  well  known  by  farmers,  and  occasionally 
prevalent  in  every  part  of  the  kingdom  where  the  pasture  is  luxuriant, 
and  the  system  of  close  feeding  is  practised.  I have  known  more 
than  a hundred  sheep  die  on  one  farm  in  the  course  of  a fortnight, 
and  entirely  because  the  farmer  would  not  take  warning  by  the  loss 
of  the  first,  and  put  them  on  poorer  ground,  but  obstinately  pursued 
his  plan  of  fattening  them  as  fast  as  he  could.  In  spring,  particu- 
larly, when  the  young  grasses  shoot  and  are  full  of  juice,  and  espe- 
cially after  a few  warm  days,  the  blood  appears  in  the  flock,  and  the 
sheep  die  away  by  scores.  The  rich  pastures  of  Romney  Marsh  in 
Kent,  and  the  Sedgemoors  in  Somersetshire,  are  particularly  produc- 
tive of  this  malady. 

It  is  not  always  that  warning  is  given  of  the  attack,  but  generally 
the  affected  sheep  will  separate  himself  from  the  rest  of  his  flock 
appear  dull,  hang  his  head,  his  eyes  will  be  heavy,  and,  if  examined, 
bloodshot.  He  will  heave  considerably  at  the  flanks,  stretch  out  his 
fore-legs  to  ease  nimself,  with  great  difficulty  be  induced  to  move,  or 
will  stagger  about,  threatening  to  fall  every  moment.  If  neglected, 
six  hours  will  occasionally  close  the  affair;  and  the  animal  will  very 
rarely  live  eight-and-forty.  On  being  examined  after  death,  air  and 
an  eftusion  of  yellow  or  reddish  fluid  will  be  found  in  the  whole  of 
the  cellular  membrane;  the  veins  will  everywhere  be  turgid  with 
blood,  the  muscles  livid  or  black,  and  the  whole  contents  of  the  belly 
and  chest  dark-coloured,  hastening  to  decay,  and  offensive  almost  as 
soon  as  the  animal  is  dead.  If  it  is  a ewe  near  her  lambing  that  is 
attacked,  the  lamb  will  always  be  found  dead  and  putrid. 

Bleeding  is  the  grand  thing ; on  it  alone  can  much  dependence  be 
placed  ; and  if  the  amiraal  is  bled  at  the  commencement  of  the  dis- 
ease, and  plenty  of  blood  is  taken  away,  he  will  usually  be  saved, 
although  nothing  else  were  done.  The  jugular  is  the  vein  that  should 
be  opened  here,  because  most  blood  can  be  procured  from  it,  and  most 
rapidly  procured — circumstances  both  of  immense  importance  in  such 
a case.  The  sheep  should  be  bled  until  it  staggers  and  falls.  Then 
comes,  as  in  otheT  similar  cases,  physic,  and  this  should  be  liberally 
17 


DISEASES  OF  SIIEEP. 


i 0 1 

given.  Two  ounces  of  Epsom  salts,  and  no  ginger  with  them  here, 
should  be  administered  every  second  hour  until  the  sheep  is  well 
purged,  and  the  purging  should  be  kept  up  by  occasional  doses  of  the 
medicine  for  several  days. 

The  bowels  having  been  well  opened,  the  Fever  Drink  Recipe 
(No.  4,  p.  201)  should  be  given  morning  and  night,  and  the  animal 
turned  on  shorter  pasture,  and  a partial  system  of  starvation  for  a 
while  adopted,  and  strictly  pursued. 

It  sometimes  happens,  as  we  stated  when  a similar  disease  in 
cattle  was  treated  on,  that  the  stage  of  inflammatory  fever  rapidly 
passes,  and  one  of  a typhoid  character,  and  with  a tendency  to  de- 
composition and  putridity,  succeeds.  There  is  little  chance  of  saving 
the  ox  in  this  state;  there  is  scarcely  any  of  saving  the  sheep;  for 
when  he  is  once  down,  and  foarns  at  the  mouth,  and  looks  anxiously 
at  his  sides,  it  is  generally  all  over  with  him.  If,  however,  anything 
is  attempted,  the  following  tonic  mixture  is  as  good  as  any ; — 

RECIPE  (No.  6). 

Tonic  Drink  for  Sheep.—' Take  gentian  root,  powdered,  a drachm  ; ginger,  a scruple; 
spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  a drachm;  tincture  of  cardamoms,  a drachm.  Mix,  and  give 
in  a little  gruel. 

It  is  a good  practice,  when  the  disease  once  appears  in  a flock,  to 
bleed  every  sheep,  and  give  each  a dose  of  physic  and  change  the 
nasture. 


SECTION  V. 

STURDY,  GIDDINESS,  OR  WATER  IN  THE  HEAD. 

This  is  a very  singular,  and  also  a very  fatal  disease.  It  commonly 
attacks  yearlings ; a two  or  three-shear  sheep  is  generally  exempt 
from  it.  The  animal  becomes  dull ; separates  himself  from  the  rest 
of  the  flock ; is  frightened  at  the  most  trifling  circumstance,  and  at 
the  least  noise;  he  runs  round  and  round,  but  always  in  one  direc- 
tion ; holds  his  head  on  one  side : if  there  is  a brook  in  the  field,  he 
stands  upon  its  banks,  poring  over  the  running  stream,  and  nodding 
and  staggering,  until  he  frequently  tumbles  in ; or  he  breaks  from  hia 
fit  of  musing,  and  gallops  wildly  over  the  field,  but  with  no  certain 
course,  and  with  no  determinate  object.  Soon  his  appetite  fails,  or 
he  evidently  feels  so  much  inconvenience  when  he  stoops  to  graze, 
that  he  gives  up  eating  altogether;  and  then  he  wastes  rapidly  away; 
he  seems  to  be  half  stupid,  and  at  length  dies  a mere  skeleton. 

The  disease  generally  attacks  the  weakest  of  the  flock.  It  is  in 
some  measure  connected  with  a peculiar  state  of  the  atmosphere.  It 
is  most  prevalent  after  a moist  winter,  and  cold,  arid  ungenial  spring. 
It  usually  begins  in  the  spring,  continues  through  the  summer,  and 
disappears  as  the  winter  approaches.  It  is  dependent  partly  on  the 


WATER  IN  THE  HEAD. 


195 


season,  but  more  on  the  health  and  strength  of  the  animal.  It  may 
z>e  prevented  by  good  and  upland  pasture ; and  is  most  common  in 
low  and  marshy  ground.  It  is  not  contagious,  nor  does  it  seem  to  be 
hereditary.  Having  once  attacked  the  animal,  and  gradual  loss  cl 
flesh  having  commenced,  the  case  is  hopeless. 

All  medicine  will  be  thrown  away  in  such  a case.  It  is  the  conse- 
quence of  pressure  on  the  brain  by  a strange,  bladder-like-formed 
animal;  and  it  would  be  more  for  the  advantage  of  the  owner  to  de- 
stroy the  sheep,  however  out  of  condition  it  may  be,  than  to  com- 
mence any  desperate  and  fruitless  course  of  medicine. 

Various  methods  have  been  tried  in  order  to  break  this  bladder, 
such  as  hunting  the  sheep  with  dogs,  and  frightening  him  half  to 
death,  throwing  him  into  a gravel-pit,'  and  various  other  absurd  as 
well  as  brutal  methods.  They  who  pursued  this  course  much  oftenei 
succeeded  in  breaking  the  animal’s  neck  than  rupturing  the  bladder. 
At  length  some  persons  bethought  them  of  getting  at,  and  puncturing 
or  removing,  this  bladder  by  some  operation.  They  thrust  iron  wires 
or  skewers  up  the  nostril,  and  into  the  brain,  and  sometimes  succeed- 
ed in  effecting  their  purpose.  If  they  hit  upon  the  nuisance,  and 
pierced  its  envelope  or  skin,  they  were  made  aware  of  it  by  a greater 
or  smaller  quantity  of  water  flowing  from  the  nostril,  and  they  could 
always  tell  on  which  side  the  hydatid  lay,  by  the  sheep  inclining  his 
head  that  way.  They  could  also  sometimes  tell  the  precise  situation 
of  the  bladder;  for  after  being  a long  time  inclosed  between  the  skull 
and  the  brain,  and  pressed  upon  by  both,  and  pressing  upon  both  of 
them  in  turn,  not  only  in  consequence  of  that  pressure  was  a portion 
of  the  brain  below  destroyed  and  absorbed,  but  even  the  bone  above 
was  softened,  nothing  but  a yielding  membrane  sometimes  remaining 
over  a particular  spot.  Some  surgeons  suggested  that  this  membrane 
should  be  punctured,  and  it  was  done  so  with  the  lancet,  or,  oftener, 
by  a heated  sharp-pointed  wire,  and  thus  the  creature  beneath  was 
wounded  and  destroyed.  Others  improved  upon  this  method  of 
operating.  A surgeon’s  trephine  was  used,  and  a circular  piece  of 
the  skull  taken  out  at  the  place  where  it  was  softened,  and  thus  the 
nydatid  was  bodily  removed ; and  when  this  was  carefully  done,  and 
the  bladder  was  not  broken,  the  hydatid,  by  slight  but  sufficiently 
distinct  motion,  when  put  into  warm  water,  showed  that  it  was  alive. 

Both  these  operations  occasionally  succeeded,  but  the  instances  of 
failure  were  so  numerous,  that  the  farmer’s  interest  still  required  that 
he  should  kill  every  sheep,  unless  a favourite,  or  very  valuable  one, 
as  soon  as  he  was  evidently  sturdied,  and  before  he  had  wasted  and 
become  unfit  for  the  market. 

There  may,  however,  be  some  prevention,  although  no  cure;  and 
that  prevention  consists  in  good,  and  sufficient,  and  upland  pasture: 
yet  in  some  untoward  seasons  even  this  will  not  avail  with  unhealthy 
and  weakly  animals.  Habitual  shelter  from  the  sleet  and  snow  of 
winter  is  another  and  very  important  means  of  prevention.  The  un 
feeling  abandonment  of  the  sheep  to  all  the  inclemency  of  the  coldest 


196 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


weather  is  the  fruitful  source  of  the  majority  of  the  diseases,  and  of 
the  most  fatal  ones,  to  which  these  animals  are  subject. 

This  malady  is  sometimes  accompanied  by  palsy.  Every  continued 
pressure  on  the  brain  is  apt  to  produce  loss  of  power  over  some  of  the 
limbs;  but  in  this  case  the  palsy  is  variable:  it  shifts  from  limb  to 
limb,  and  from  side  to  side,  and,  unlike  simple  palsy,  is  generally 
attended  by  partial  blindness,  and  by  the  greatest  degree  of  stupidity. 

I repeat  it  again,  that  no  medicine  can  be  of  the  least  avail  in  de- 
stroying the  blob , as  it  is  called  in  some  parts  of  the  country  : but  if 
either  of  the  operations  is  tried,  one  of  the  purging  drinks  may  be 
useful  in  abating  inflammation ; and  whether  the  skull  is  punctured 
or  trephined,  a pitch  plaster  over  the  wound  will  preserve  the  sheep 
from  being  tortured  by  the  flies. 


SECTION  VI. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

This,  although  a frequent  disease  of  the  sheep,  and  of  the  same 
part,  and  almost  as  fata,  as  that  which  has  been  just  described,  is 
accompanied  by  such  different  symptoms,  that  it  is  scarcely  possible 
to  confound  them.  Inflammation  of  the  brain  generally  attacks  the 
healthiest  sheep,  and  of  all  ages,  and  more  in  hot  weather  than  in  the 
early  part  of  spring.  There  is  no  character  of  stupidity  about  this 
affection,  no  disinclination  to  move,  no  moving  round  and  round 
without  any  determinate  object:  but  the  eyes  are  protruding,  blood- 
shot, and  bright;  and  there  is  an  eager  and  ferocious,  not  a depressed 
and  anxious  countenance.  The  animal  is  in  constant  motion  : he 
gallops  about  attacking  his  fellow's,  attacking  the  shepherd,  and 
sometimes  quarrelling  with  a post  or  tree;  he  is  labouring  under  wild 
delirium,  and  this  continues  until  he  is  absolutely  exhausted.  He 
then  stands  still,  or  lies  down  for  a while  panting  dreadfully,  when 
he  starts  afresh,  as  delirious  and  as  ungovernable  as  before. 

The  first  and  the  grand  remedy  is  bleeding;  and  that  from  the 
jugular,  and  copiously,  and  to  be  obtained  as  quickly  as  possible. 
The  guide  as  to  the  quantity  will  be  the  dropping  of  the  animal.  To 
bleeding,  physicking  will  of  course  succeed,  and  the  sheep  should  be 
removed  into  a less  luxuriant  pasture.  This  also  is  one  of  the  dis- 
eases that  should  be  attacked  at  its  very  commencement.  Violent 
inflammation  of  the  brain  and  its  membranes  wdll  very  soon  be  fol- 
lowed by  serious  disorganization ; and  if  water  once  begins  to  be 
formed  under  the  membranes,  or  effused  in  the  ventricles,  the  case  is 
hopeless.  Here  also  the  attention  of  the  farmer  should  be  directed  to 
preventives.  One  case  of  goggles  may  be  accidental ; but  if  two  or 
three  are  seized  with  inflammation  of  the  brain,  the  fanner  may  ba 


DISCHARGE  FROM  THE  NOSE. 


197 


assured  that  there  is  something  wrong  in  his  system  of  management, 
and  that  which,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  is  the  root  of  the  evil,  is  too 
rich  pasture,  probably  succeeding  to  spare  feed.  A dose  of  salts 
should,  therefore,  he  given  to  each  sheep,  and  the  pasture  of  the  whole 
should  be  changed. 


SECTION  VII. 

COLD,  AND  DISCHARGE  FROM  THE  NOSE,  &C. 

Here  again,  from  the  cruel  and  impolitic  abandonment  of  the  sheep, 
hundreds  of  them  are  lost  during  the  winter.  When  they  are  drenched 
to  the  skin  by  continual  rains,  or  half  smothered  with  snow,  and  have 
not  even  a hedge  a yard  high  to  break  the  biting  blast,  can  it  be  won- 
dered that  cold  and  cough  should  be  frequent  in  the  flock ; and  that 
it  should  be  severe  and  unmanageable,  and  even  occasionally  run  on 
to  inflammation  of  the  lungs,  and  consumption  and  death  1 I am  not 
an  advocate  for  close  housing,  or  too  much  nursing.  I am  aware  that 
we  may  thus  render  the  sheep  unnaturally  tender,  and  more  exposed 
to  catarrh  and  all  its  consequences;  but  I would  tell  the  farmer,  that 
the  fleece  of  the  sheep,  however  thick,  is  an  insufficient  protection  in 
cold  and  wet  weather,  and  an  open  and  bleak  situation. 

The  symptoms  of  catarrh  are  heaviness,  watery  eyes,  running  from 
the  nose.  The  discharge  is  thick,  and  clings  about  the  nostril,  and 
obstructs  it,  and  the  sheep  is  compelled  to  suspend  its  grazing  almost 
every  minute,  and  with  violent  efforts  blow  away  the  obstruction. 
Cough  frequently  accompanies  this  discharge ; and  if  there  is  much 
fever,  it  will  be  shown  by  loss  of  appetite  and  rapid  weakness. 

There  is  a discharge  from  the  nostrils  which  sometimes  attacks  the 
whole  flock,  and  if  it  is  not  attended  by  wasting  in  flesh  or  loss  of 
appetite,  the  farmer  does  not  regard  it ; for  he  knows  from  experience, 
that,  in  spite  of  all  he  can  do,  it  will  probably  last  through  the  winter, 
and  disappear  as  the  spring  advances.  When,  however,  he  perceives 
this  nasal  gleet,  he  should  keep  a sharp  look-out  over  his  flock,  and 
if  there  is  one  that  stays  behind,  or  will  not  eat,  he  should  catch  him, 
and  remove  him  to  a warmer  situation,  and  bleed  him,  and  give  him 
the  laxative  and  fever  drinks,  and  nurse  him  with  mashes  and  hay. 
If  a second  or  a third  sheep  should  fail  in  the  same  manner,  he  must 
indeed  look  about  him ; there  is  danger  to  all,  for  the  inflammation 
has  spread  itself  from  the  throat  down  the  windpipe  to  tne  air-passages 
of  the  lungs,  and  a very  dangerous  disease,  called  bronchitis,  is  pro- 
duced. He  must  move  the  whole  flock  to  a more  sheltered  situation. 
He  must  move  them  to  a pasture  of  somewhat  different  character.  He 
must  take  them  from  their  turnips  or  their  hay,  and  give  them  what 
other  food  his  farm  will  afford.  He  should,  if  he  will  take  the  tiouble 
to  do  so  (and  he  would  be  amply  repaid  for  that  trouble;,  bleed  them 
all  round,  and  physic  them  all.  This  is  strange  doctrine  to  the  farmer, 
17* 


198 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


who  is  accustomed  to  look  on  and  let  things  take  their  course.  It  is 
however,  good  advice,  and  he  will  find  it  so,  if  he  will  but  follow  it. 
Yet  let  him  not,  in  his  determination  to  rouse  himself  and  do  some- 
thing, listen  too  much  to  the  suggestions  of  the  shepherd  or  the  far- 
rier. Let  him  not  give  any  of  those  abominable  cordial  drinks,  which 
have  destroyed  thousands  of  sheep.  Warmth,  housing  at  night, 
littering  with  clean  straw,  and  warm  gruel  if  the  animal  will  not  eat 
or  drink,  are  not  only  allowable,  but  useful : nay,  I would  allow  a 
little  ginger  or  a little  ale  with  the  medicine ; but  not  those  compounds 
of  all  manner  of  hot  and  injurious  spices,  which  would  kindle  a fire 
in  the  veins  of  the  animal,  if  it  were  not  blazing  there  before. 

[Experienced  sheep-breeders  recommend  a dose  of  tar,  to  be  repeated  for  foul  noses 
but  lest  that  be  neglected,  it  is  recommended  as  a good  precaution,  under  all  circum 
stances,  to  have  some  saplings  or  small  trees  bored  with  a large  auger  at  proper  dis 
tances,  and  the  holes  to  be  kept  supplied  with  common  salt.  Let  the  edges  of  these 
holes  be  smeared  with  tar,  and  thus  the  sheep  in  the  act  of  getting  the  salt  will  tar 
his  own  nose.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  would  be  a good  and  wholesome 
practice  as  an  item  of  general  management.  Few  farmers  attend  as  they  ought  to 
do,  to  having  their  stock  regularly  and  plentifully  salted,  and  there  is  known  to  be 
something  in  tar  and  in  resinous  plants,  as  pine  and  cedar,  particularly  healthy  foi 
sheep.  — S.] 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LUNGS 

Is  not  unfrequently  the  result  of  a common  cold,  not  attended  to 
the  disease  extending  itself  to  the  lungs : it  more  commonly  appt?ars 
in  the  spring  of  the  year;  its  symptoms  are  dulness,  hanging  of  the 
ears,  quick  breathing,  cough,  and  discharge  from  the  nostrils.  The 
animal  should  be  bled  freely  from  the  neck  — a pint  in  general  will 
not  be  too  much  for  a full-grown  animal  to  lose.  After  this  a dose  of 
salts  should  be  given,  and  should  be  followed  by  the  Fever  Drink 
(No.  4,  p.  201)  once  a day. 

INFLUENZA. 

Sometimes  a catarrh  assumes  an  epidemic  form,  and  appears  as  the 
influenza.  This  disease  may  be  distinguished  from  a cold,  or  from 
bronchitis,  by  the  discharge  from  the  nostrils  being  more  profuse  and 
the  eyes  nearly  closed,  great  uneasiness  of  the  head,  and  a sudden 
prostration  of  strength.  Sometimes  the  animal  will  run  round  in  a 
circle,  and  a rattling  will  be  heard  in  the  windpipe : these  symptoms 
will  be  soon  followed  by  death. 

Bleeding  should  in  general  be  abstained  from  in  this  disease,  but 
half  an  ounce  of  Epsom  salts,  with  one  drachm  of  gentian,  should 
be  given  dissolved  in  gruel ; but  if  the  sheep  purged  before,  instead 
of  the  above  the  following  should  be  given,  and  be  assisted  by  good 
nursing  and  care  : — 

RECIPE  (No.  7). 

Take  prepared  chalk,  one  ounce  ; catechu,  halt  a drachm  ; opium,  twenty  grains; 
spirit  of  nitrous  ether,  two  drachms  ; gentian,  one  drachm.  To  be  dissolved  in  gruel, 
and  given  twice  a day  till  the  purging  ceases;  after  which  the  two  last  ingredients, 
with  a drachm  of  nitre  and  ten  grains  of  tartarised  antimony,  should  be  given  in 
gruel  once  a day 


BLOWN,  OR  BLAST. 


199 


SECTION  VIII. 

BLOWN,  OR  BLAST. 

This  is  ot  as  frequent  occurrence  among  sheep  as  oxen,  and  it  s as 
tatal.  The  cause  is  the  same,  the  removal  of  the  animals  from  poor 
keep  to  rich  and  succulent  food.  When  sheep  are  first  turned  on 
clover,  or  even  on  any  pasture  more  nutritious  than  that  to  which  they 
have  been  accustomed,  if  they  are  not  watched  and  kept  moving 
during  the  day,  and  folded  elsewhere  at  night,  they  are  too  apt  to 
overload  the  paunch,  so  that  it  can  no  longer  contract  upon  and  expel 
its  contents  : fermentation  then  ensues,  and  the  extrication  of  gas : 
the  paunch  is  distended  to  the  utmost,  and  the  animal  is  often  suffo- 
cated. The  remedy  of  the  farmer  is  the  same  here  as  with  the  ox  — 
paunching , or  thrusting  a sharp  pen-knife  into  the  paunch,  between 
the  hip-bone  and  the  last  rib  on  the  left  side,  when  the  gas  with  which 
the  stomach  is  distended  will  escape.  The  objection  to  this  practice 
is  likewise  the  same  as  in  oxen — that  when  a portion  of  the  gas  has 
escaped,  the  stomach  will  no  longer  be  firmly  pressed  against  the 
side,  and  the  wounds  in  the  side  and  the  paunch  will  no  longer  ex- 
actly correspond ; a portion  of  the  gas,  and  of  the  contents  of  the 
stomach  too,  will  then  pass  into  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen,  and 
(although  the  animal  may  seem  for  a while  to  recover)  will  be  an 
unsuspected  source  of  inflammation,  and  even  of  death. 

The  common  elastic  tube,  so  strongly  recommended  by  Dr.  Duncan, 
is  preferable  to  the  knife : the  gas  will  escape  as  completely,  and 
without  any  possibility  of  danger.  It  is  passed  down  the  gullet  into 
the  paunch.  The  stomach-pump,  however,  is  here  likewise  a far 
preferable  instrument,  for,  as  was  remarked  when  treating  of  the 
hoove  in  oxen,  the  acid  fluid  which  is  probably  in  the  stomach  may 
be  pumped  out,  or  sufficient  warm  water  pumped  in  to  excite  vomit- 
ing, and  thus  free  the  stomach  of  its  oppressive  load.  If  neither  the 
pump  nor  the  tube  is  at  hand,  a stick  with  a knob  at  the  end  of  it 
should  be  passed  by  the  shepherd  into  the  paunch,  which,  separating 
the  muscular  pillars  that  constitute  the  roof  of  this  stomach,  is  far 
preferable  to  the  knife. 

When  a sheep  is  first  seized  with  the  blown  or  blast,  he  will  often 
be  relieved  by  being  driven  gently  about  for  an  hour  or  two,  and  put 
into  a bare  pasture.  In  the  act  of  moving,  these  pillars  will  be  occa- 
sionally separated  a little  from  each  other,  and  the  gas  will  escape; 
but  the  animal  must  not  be  gallopped  or  driven  by  dogs,  lest  the  sto- 
mach should  be  ruptured. 

The  animal  having  been  relieved,  or  the  contents  of  the  stomach 
evacuated,  a purgative  should  always  be  administered,  and  that  com- 
bined with  some  aromatic.  The  following  will  be  useful : — 

14 


1 00 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


RECIPE  (No.  8). 

Physic  for  Blown— Take  Glauber’s  Balts,  one  ounce,  and  dissolve  in  peppermint 
water,  four  ounces ; to  this  add,  tincture  of  ginger,  a drachm  ; tincture  of  gentian,  a 
drachm;  boiling  water,  an  ounce.  This  should  be  given  every  six  hours,  until  the 
bowels  are  opened,  and  half  the  quantity  on  each  of  the  four  next  mornings. 

The  same  treatment  recommended  for  cattle  for  this  disease  is  like- 
wise equally  desirable  for  sheep,  the  dose  being  about  one-sixth  ot 
jne-eighth  less  in  quantity. 


SECTION  IX. 

THE  YELLOWS,  OR  JAUNDICE. 

Sheep  are  subject  to  several  sad  affections  of  the  liver,  among 
which  ranks  that  destructive  disease  the  rot.  Jaundice  is  a less  for- 
midable malady,  but  often  sufficiently  destructive.  It  consists  of  a 
superabundant  discharge  of  bile,  or  an  obstruction  of  the  biliary  tubes ; 
and  in  either  case  a considerable  quantity  of  bile  enters  into  the  cir- 
culation, penetrates  into  the  capillary  vessels,  and  thus  tinges  the 
skin.  A superabundant  discharge  of  the  bile  is  the  most  frequent 
cause. 

The  liver  seems  to  be  a very  tender  organ  in  fatted  and  pampered 
sheep,  aud  easily  inflamed  or  put  out  of  order.  In  the  half-starved, 
half-wild  varieties  of  the  sheep,  inflammation  of  the  liver  and  jaun- 
dice seldom  occurs;  but  too  high  living  exhibits  its  injurious  conse- 
quences in  this  organ  first  of  all.  It  is  often  seen,  after  sheep  have 
been  moved  into  fair  but  not  too  luxurious  pasture,  that  if  they  have 
escaped  the  blown,  a yellowness  has  soon  begun  to  steal  over  the 
eyes  and  the  mouth,  and  the  skin  generally;  and  the  animal  has  been 
dull,  and  has  disliked  to  move,  and  has  sometimes  been  purged,  but 
more  frequently  costive,  and  the  urine  has  been  of  a dark  yellow 
brown  colour.  The  liver  could  not  maintain  its  healthy  state  unde 
♦his  injudicious  increase  of  nutriment.  When  the  farmer  and  the 
shepherd  have  either  neglected  to  observe  this,  or  to  adopt  the  proper 
treatment,  many  of  the  sheep  have  died  in  a few  days.  On  examina- 
tion after  death,  marks  of  intense  inflammation  have  appeared  every- 
where, but  more  particularly  in  the  liver,  which  has  been  of  a red- 
brown  colour,  and  double  its  natural  size,  and  is  broken  to  pieces 
with  the  slightest  force. 

If  it  is  taken  in  time,  this  is  not  a disease  very  difficult  to  treat. 
On  the  first  decided  yellowness  being  observed,  the  animal  should  be 
removed  to  a bare  field,  and  should  have  the  Purging  Drink  (No.  'i 
p.  200)  : half  doses  of  it  should  also  be  repeated  for  several  succes- 
sive mornings,  so  that  the  bowels  may  be  kept  in  a relaxed  state. 
Mercury  will  not  be  wanted.  Calomel  is  rarely  a safe  medicine,  and 
it  is  a very  uncertain  one  for  sheep.  A little  starvation,  and  plenty 


T HE  HOT. 


4:01 


of  purgative  medicine,  will  be  all  that  is  rea  .red.  Should  the  ani 
mal  appear  to  be  considerably  weakened,  this  drink  will  be  useful 
RECIPE  (No.  9). 

General  Tonic  Drink.— Take,  gentian,  two  drachms  Colombo,  one  drachm  ; gin 
ger  half  a drachm  : give  in  four  ounces  of  warm  gruo* 


SECTION  X. 

THE  ROT. 

This  disease  is  the  very  pest  of  the  sheep,  and  destroys  more  of 
them  than  all  the  other  maladies  put  together.  There  are  few  win- 
ters in  which  it  may  not  be  safely  said  that  many  hundred  thousands 
perish  by  it.  The  cause  seems  to  be  better  understood  than  it  used 
to  be,  and  on  many  a pasture  that  had  formerly  obtained  a fatal  cele- 
brity for  rotting  sheep,  they  may  now  feed  securely ; yet  almost  as 
many  sheep  die  of  the  rot  as  there  ever  did.  I shall,  perhaps,  be 
able  to  show  the  principal  reason  of  this,  and  arouse  my  readers  and 
agriculturists  generally  to  the  adoption  of  more  effectual  preventive 
measures. 

The  symptoms  of  the  rot  in  the  early  stage  are  exceedingly  obscure. 
There  is  little  to  indicate  the  existence  of  the  disease  even  to  the  most 
accurate  observer.  This  is  one  cause  of  the  mischief  that  is  done; 
for  it  prevents  the  malady  from  being  attacked  when  only  it  could  be 
conquered.  The  earliest  symptom  is  one  that  is  common  to  a great 
many  other  diseases,  and  f.om  which  no  certain  conclusion  can  be 
drawn,  except  that  the  animal  is  ill,  and  labours  under  fever.  The 
sheep  is  dull,  he  lags  behind  in  his  journey  to  and  from  the  fold,  and 
he  does  not  feed  quite  so  well ; but  these  are  as  much  early  symp- 
toms of  the  staggers  as  of  the  rot. 

This,  however,  goes  on  some  time,  and  then  a palish  yellow  hue 
steals  over  the  skin,  easy  enough  to  be  seen  when  the  wool  is  parted, 
and  most  evident  in  the  eyelids,  and  that  which  is  generally  called 
the  white  of  the  eyes.  The  lips  and  mouth  are  soon  tinged,  but  not 
to  so  great  a degree.  The  sheep  does  not  otherwise  appear  to  be  ill. 
If  he  does  not  eat  much,  he  does  not  lose  flesh  ; on  the  contrary,  he 
seems  to  gain  condition,  and  that  for  several  weeks.  Graziers  were 
taught  this  by  Mr.  Bakewell.  He  found  that  he  could  save  a fort- 
night or  more  in  the  fattening  of  his  sheep  for  the  market  by  giving 
them  the  rot;  and  he  used  to  keep  a piece  of  wet  ground  expressly 
for  this  purpose,  and  on  which  he  regularly  turned  the  sheep  that  he 
destined  for  the  butcher.  This  may  be  a useful  hint  for  those  farmers 
who  have  too  much  of  this  disease  every  winter.  It  may  be  hard  to 
be  compelled  to  part  with  some  of  the  best  of  their  flock,  but  if  they 
ate  watchful  they  may  sell  the  greater  part  of  the  m without  any  very 


202 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


serious  loss.  The  farmer,  however,  is  not  always  sufficiently  w'atch 
ful  about  this,  and  too  frequently  will  not  believe  that  his  sheep  have 
the  rot  until  the  conviction  is  forced  upon  him  by  the  loss  of  some 
of  his  flock,  and  the  wasting  condition  of  many  more. 

This  thriving  period  soon  passes  over,  and  the  sheep  begin  to 
waste  much  more  rapidly  than  they  had  acquired  condition.  First 
there  is  a perceptible  alteration  in  the  countenance,  — a depressed, 
unhealthy  appearance,  accompanied  by  increased  yellowness.  The 
tongue  especially  becomes  pale  and  livid.  The  animal  is  feverish ; 
the  heat  of  the  mouth,  and  the  panting,  and  heaving  of  the  flanks,  and 
ger.eral  dulriess,  sufficiently  indicate  this.  Some  degree  of  cough 
comes  on ; some  discharge  from  the  nose ; or  the  breath  begins  to  be 
exceedingly  offensive.  The  sheep  is  sometimes  costive;  at  other 
times  it  purges  with  a violence  which  nothing  can  arrest,  and  the 
matter  discharged  is  unusually  offensive,  and  often  streaked  with 
blood.  And  now  the  soft  mellow  feel  of  the  sheep  in  condition  is  no 
longer  found,  but  there  is  an  unhealthy  flabbiness;  even  where  there 
is  but  little  left  between  the  skin  and  the  bone,  there  is  a flabby — a 
kind  of  pitty  feeling;  the  parts  give  way,  but  they  have  lost  their 
elasticity,  and  they  do  not  plump  up  again  : there  is  also  a crackling 
sound  when  the  loins  or  back  are  pressed  upon.  The  farmer  knows 
what  this  is,  and  what  he  is  to  expect,  both  in  the  sheep  and  the  ox : 
very  few  of  them  recover  after  this  crackling  has  once  been  heard. 

At  an  uncertain  period  of  the  disease  the  sheep  usually  become 
what  the  graziers  call  chockered , that  is,  a considerable  swelling 
appears  under  the  chin.  If  this  is  punctured,  sometimes  a watery 
fluid  escapes,  and  sometimes  matter;  and  occasionally  the  swelling 
bursts,  and  an  ulcer,  very  difficult  to  heal,  follows. 

The  bowels,  which  are  variable  at  first,  become  at  length  very 
relaxed.  A fetid  purging  comes  on  of  all  colours,  and  which  pursues 
its  course  in  defiance  of  every  astringent. 

The  wool  begins  to  fall  off  in  patches : it  is  loose  all  over  the  ani- 
mal, and  easily  pulled  off,  and  there  is  a white  scurfiness  adhering 
to  its  roots.  The  disease  now  still  more  rapidly  proceeds  ; and  while 
the  sheep  loses  flesh  every  day,  and  every  rib  and  every  bone  of  the 
back  can  be  plainly  felt,  his  belly  increases — he  gets  dropsical.  The 
end  is  not  then  far  off. 

The  progress  of  the  disease  is  more  or  less  rapid,  according  to  the 
violence  of  the  attack,  or  the  strength  or  weakness  of  the  sheep,  or 
the  care  that  is  bestowed  on  him,  or  the  utter  neglect  to  which  ne  is 
abandoned.  The  animal  occasionally  dies  in  two  months  after  the 
first  evident  symptom  of  rot,  hut  usually  four  or  five  or  six  months 
elapse  before  the  animal  is  perfectly  exhausted. 

The  farmer  is  not  much  accustomed  to  examine  his  sheep  afcer 
death.  It  would  be  better  for  him  if  he  paid  more  attention  to  this, 
for  he  would  discover  the  nature,  and  probably  the  cause,  of  many  a 
complaint  that  is  committing  sad  ravages  in  his  flock.  The  appear* 
ances  exhibited  in  the  sheep  that  has  died  of  the  rot  are  very  singular. 


THE  ROT. 


203 


There  appears  to  be  dropsy,  not  only  in  the  belly,  but  all  over  the 
animal.  Wherever  the  knife  is  used,  a yellow  watery  fluid  runs 
out;  and  the  consequence  of  the  existence  of  this  fluid  everywhere  is, 
that  the  muscles,  and  that  which  should  be  firm,  honest  fat,  are  yield- 
ing, and  flabby,  and  unwholesome.  When  the  belly  and  chest  are 
opened,  the  heart  is  pale,  and  soft,  and  flabby,  and  often  to  such  a 
degree  that  we  wonder  how  it  could  have  continued  to  discharge  its 
duty.  The  lungs  are  more  or  less  gorged  with  blood;  and  there  are 
a great  many  hard  knotty  points,  of  various  sizes  (tubercles),  in  them 
and  on  them,  some  of  which  have,  probably  broken,  and  the  lungs  are 
full  of  ulcers ; or  when  this  is  not  the  case,  the  lungs  are  studded 
with  innumerable  little  knotty  points  of  a dark  colour. 

The  principal  disease,  however,  is  in  the  liver,  which  is  much 
enlarged,  often  of  double  its  natural  size,  broken  down  by  the  slight- 
est touch,  sometimes  black  from  inflammation  and  congested  blood, 
and  at  other  times  of  an  unhealthy  lividness : but  that  which  is  most 
remarkable,  which  is  characteristic  of  the  disease,  is,  that  its  vessels 
are  filled  with  flukes , curiously-shaped  things  like  little  soles , which 
are  swimming  about  in  the  bile  in  every  duct,  and  burrowing  into 
every  part  of  the  liver.  Several  hundreds  of  them  are  sometimes 
contained  in  one  liver.  A few  of  them  may  occasionally  be  found  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  intestines,  but  there  only. 

The  upper  part  of  the  liver  is  frequently  speckled  like  the  body  of 
a toad ; indeed  this  has  been  so  often  remarked,  that  the  examiner,  if 
he  does  not  find  flukes,  and  sometimes  when  he  does,  looks  out  for 
the  toad’s  liver.  The  liver  is  so  diseased  and  corrupted,  that  if  an 
attempt  is  made  to  boil  it,  instead  of  becoming  hardened,  it  falls  all 
to  pieces,  or  is  in  a manner  dissolved.  Abscesses  are  oftener  found 
in  the  liver  than  in  the  lungs,  and  to  an  extent  sufficient  to  destroy 
the  sheep  without  any  other  cause.  Sometimes  there  are  knots  in 
the  liver  as  well  as  in  the  lungs  — small,  round,  hardened  lumps  — 
and  in  a few  cases  they  are  so  numerous,  that  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  find  a sound  part. 

If  the  farmer  would  accustom  himself  to  observe  these  things,  and 
carefully  examine  every  sheep  that  dies  in  the  autumn,  he  would 
sometimes  detect  the  existence  of  this  disease  in  his  flock  before  he 
would  otherwise  have  been  aware  of  it.  Nay,  he  should  not  confine 
his  examination  to  this,  but  should  observe  the  appearance  of  the 
inside  of  every  sheep  which  he  may  kill  for  the  use  of  his  family 
about  that  time.  It  should  be  a practice  never  omitted,  and  however 
seemingly  healthy  the  animal  may  die,  whatever  quantity  of  suet 
may  cover  the  kidneys,  if  the  liver  is  dappled  with  white  spots,  or  if 
the  vessels  of  the  liver  are  thickened,  and  if  there  are  flukes,  however 
small,  floating  about  in  the  bile,  that  sheep  was  certainly  rotted ; and 
if  one  sheep  is  rotted,  the  greater  part  of  the  remainder  will  probably 
follow.  Aware  of  this,  and  at  this  early  period  of  the  disease,  the 
grazier  may,  either  by  hastening  the  fattening  process,  or  shifting  the 
pasture,  or  adopting  medical  treatment,  put  many  scores  of  pounds 
into  his  pocket,  which  would  otherwise  be  irrecoverably  lost. 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP 


Th  s examination  of  the  sheep  will  lead  us  to  the  principal  and 
r /imary  seat  of  the  disease,  namely,  the  liver.  What  is  the  cause  of 
nia  affection  of  the  liver  is  another  question,  and  a very  important 
,ne.  There  is  a dispute  which  no  one  has  yet  settled,  whether  this 
hike-worm  is  the  cause  or  the  consequence  of  the  disease.  I am 
rery  much  inclined  to  think  that  it  is  the  consequence,  although  it 
nay  and  does  much  aggravate  the  disease.  These  parasitical  ani- 
nals,  both  in  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms,  fasten  upon  a part 
hat  is  diseased,  or  the  vitality  of  which  is  weakened. 

Another  disputed  point  is  the  source  of  these  flukes.  Are  the  eggs 
laken  up  in  the  herbage  1 Does  some  insect  or  fly,  that  is  a fluke  in 
Dne  part  of  its  existence,  lay  its  eggs  on  plants  growing  in  wet  pas- 
tures, or  by  the  side  of  stagnant  water]  We  have  no  proof  of  this, 
and  we  never  saw  the  fluke  in  any  other  form.  Therefore,  it  is  use- 
less to  dispute  about  that  which  cannot  be  resolved.  The  most  pro- 
bable thing,  however,  is,  that  the  eggs,  whence  the  fluke  is  produced, 
are,  like  the  eggs  of  many  animalcula,  floating  in  the  air,  so  small 
and  pellucid  as  to  be  invisible  to  us  ; that  they  are  inhaled  with  the 
breath,  or  received  with  the  food,  but  only  find  a proper  nest,  a proper 
Diace  to  be  hatched  into  life,  in  the  liver  of  the  sheep  labouring  under 
ihe  rot. 

These  flukes  are  occasionally  found  in  the  livers  of  almost  every 
domestic  quadruped,  and  so  far  as  it  has  hitherto  appeared,  they  are 
in  all  of  them  connected  with  disease. 

Well,  then,  what  is  the  cause  of  this  affection  of  the  liver]  It  is 
evidently  connected  with  moisture,  although  it  may  be  difficult  to 
trace  the  connexion  between  this  moisture  and  a diseased  liver. 

It  is,  however,  proper  to  observe,  that  the  eggs  of  flukes  have  been 
found  in  countless  numbers  in  the  biliary  ducts  on  examining  the 
liver  of  a cothed  or  rotten  sheep  in  the  months  of  April,  May,  or  June ; 
and  it  is  considered  by  respectable  authority,  that  these  eggs  are 
passed  into  the  bowels,  evacuated  with  the  dung,  and,  their  vitality 
being  preserved  by  the  sun  and  moisture,  they  are  swallowed  with 
the  grass  by  sound  animals,  who  thus  become  infected.  Whereas 
if  the  eggs  had  fallen  on  dry  land,  their  vitality  would  be  destroyed. 
Although  it  appears  reasonable  enough  that  the  infection  is  produced 
through  the  medium  of  the  stomach,  yet  it  would  be  expected,  if  the 
above  theory  were  entirely  correct,  that  by  keeping  sheep  from  rot- 
ting land  for  several  years,  such  land  would  cease  to  produce  the 
disease,  from  the  absence  of  the  eggs;  which,  however,  is  not  found 
o be  the  case.  It  is  therefore  probable  that  there  are  other  sources 
From  which  the  eggs  of  flukes  are  derived,  besides  the  dung  of  sheep. 

The  history  of  the  rot  is  plain  enough  here.  It  prevails,  or  rather 
it  is  found  only,  in  boggy,  poachy  ground.  On  upland  pasture,  with 
a light  sandy  soil,  it  is  never  seen ; and  in  good  sound  pasture,  in  a 
lower  situation,  it  is  only  seen  when,  from  an  unusually  wet  season, 
fhat  pasture  has  become  boggy  and  poachy.  It  is  also  proved  to 
demonstration,  that  land  that  has  been  notoriously  rotting  grc«nd,  ha* 


THE  ROT. 


206 

been  rendered  perfectly  sound  and  healthy  by  being  well  under- 
drained, that  is,  by  being  made  dry.  There  are  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  acres,  on  which  a sheep,  forty  years  ago,  could  not  pasture 
for  a day  without  becoming  rotten,  that  are  now  as  healthy  as  any  in 
the  kingdom. 

We  can  also  tell  the  kind  of  wet  ground  which  will  give  the  rot. 
Wherever  the  water  will  soon  run  off,  there  is  no  danger;  but  where 
it  lies  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  slowly  evaporates,  the  rot 
is  certain.  One  part  of  a common  shall  be  enclosed  ; or  if  it  has  not 
been  drained,  at  least  the  hollows  in  which  the  water  used  to  stand 
are  filled  up,  and  the  surface  is  levelled : no  rot  is  caught  there.  On 
the  other  side  of  the  hedge  there  are  these  marshy  places,  these  little 
stagnant  ponds,  where  evaporation  is  always  going  forward,  and  the 
ground  is  never  dry— a sheep  cannot  put  his  foot  there  without  being 
rotted.  These  are  plain,  palpable  facts,  and  they  are  sufficient  for 
the  farmer's  purpose,  without  his  puzzling  his  brains  about  the  man- 
ner in  which  wet  ground  produces  diseased  liver. 

He  may  be  assured  that  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  animal’s 
feeding  on  stimulating  or  poisonous  herbs.  It  has  nothing  whatever 
to  do  with  the  food.  It  depends  on  the  wetness  or  dryness  of  the 
pasture. 

How  is  it,  then,  that  when  so  great  a part  of  the  country  is  under 
drained,  the  rot  should  continue  to  be  almost  as  prevalent  as  ever! 
Why  is  it  not  so  prevalent  where  the  ground  has  been  properly  under- 
drained 1 There  are  fields  in  every  well-managed  farm  in  which  the 
rot  is  never  known ; there  are  others  in  which  it  still  continues  to 
depopulate  the  flock. 

The  draining  may  not  be  equally  effectual  in  both.  It  might  have 
oeen  carelessly,  superficially  performed  in  the  one  case;  or  the  soil 
of  the  two  pastures  may  be  very  different.  The  one  may  be  light 
and  porous,  and  a little  draining  may  effect  the  purpose : the  soil  of 
the  other  may  be  heavy  and  tenacious,  and  drains  not  more  than  a 
yard  asunder  would  scarcely  keep  it  dry.  What  is  more  to  the  pur- 
pose, but  less  thought  of,  there  may  be  little  nooks  and  corners  in  the 
field  that  have  not  been  underdrained.  A few  minutes’  trampling 
upon  them  will  be  fatal  to  the  sheep,  and  one  or  two  of  them  upon 
the  whole  farm  will  render  all  the  labour  bestowed  on  every  othei 
part  absolutely  nugatory. 

It  is  surprising  how  soon  the  animal  is  infected.  The  merely 
going  once  to  drink  from  a notedly  dangerous  pond  has  been  suffi- 
cient. The  passing  over  one  suspicious  common  in  the  way  to  or 
from  the  fair,  and  the  lingering  only  for  a few  minutes  in  a deep  and 
poachy  lane.  Then  it  can  easily  be  conceived  what  mischief  one  or 
two  of  these  neglected  corners,  in  which  there  may  be  little  swamps 
oerhaps  only  a yard  or  two  across,  may  do  in  a farm  in  other  respects 
well  managed,  and  perfectly  free  from  infection. 

The  disease  of  the  liver  terminating  in  or  constituting  the  rot,  is, 
then,  dependent  on  moisture,  and  that  retained  for  a certain  time  or 
18 


20**  DISEASES  OP  SHEEP. 

the  surface  of  the  ground,  so  that  the  process  of  evaporation  may  have 
commenced : it  is  also  probable  that  the  decomposition  of  vegetable 
matter  growing  on  the  surface  has  much  to  do  in  producing  the 
complaint. 

If  sheep-breeders  would  get  more  into  the  habit  of  having  oxen  to 
turn  upon  the  aftermath  of  their  low  and  dangerous  pastures,  instead 
of  venturing  so  frequently  to  send  their  sheep  there,  because  they 
cannot  afford  to  lose  that  portion  of  the  crop,  they  would  not  suffer 
the  grievous  losses  which  sometimes  almost  break  them  down. 

The  preventive,  then,  seems  plain  enough.  On  good  sound  ground 
the  sheep  need  not  fear  the  rot;  and  other  stock  should  be  kept  on 
the  farm  to  pasture  on  the  suspicious  or  dangerous  places.  The 
draining  should  be  effective  where  it  is  attempted,  and  no  nook  or 
corner  should  escape. 

Can  anything  be  done  by  way  of  cure!  Probably  there  may,  and 
a great  deal  more  than  the  farmer  imagines.  All,  however,  depends 
upon  the  stage  of  the  disease.  The  liver  may  be  diseased,  but  it 
must  not  be  disorganised  ; it  must  not  be  tuberculated  or  ulcerated  ; 
and  the  flukes  must  not  have  burrowed  too  deeply  into  it.  The 
fanner,  from  habitual  observation  of  his  flock,  must  have  discovered 
t at  the  very  commencement  of  its  attack,  or  he  must  have  bff n 
made  aware  of  it  by  the  examination  of  some  sheep  that  died,  or  that 
nad  been  slaughtered  for  the  use  of  his  family.  Then  be  may  do 
good.  Good  is  often  done  without  his  help.  A succession  of  dry 
weather  will  often  stop,  or  at  least  retard,  the  ravages  of  the  rot.  If 
moisture  be  the  cause  of  it,  he  must  remove  that  cause.  He  must 
change  the  pasture,  and  drive  his  flock  to  the  driest  ground  his  farm 
contains;  and  besides  this,  he  must  give  a little  dry  meat — a little 
hay.  Some  have  advised  to  feed  the  suspected  sheep  altogether  on 
hay.  This  is  carrying  the  matter  a little  too  far : for  in  the  prime  of 
the  season  the  sheep  will  pine  for  the  grass,  and  rapidly  lose  condi- 
tion for  want  of  it.  A change  to  a thoroughly  dry  pasture  will  some- 
times do  wonders.  At  all  events,  it  is  worth  trying.  The  animals 
must,  however,  be  carefully  watched,  and  if  it  is  not  evident  from 
their  more  cheerful  countenance  and  manner,  and  the  diminution  or 
disappearance  of  the  yellowness,  that  the  disease  is  giving  way, 
advantage  must  be  taken  of  their  present  condition,  and  they  must  be 
turned  over  to  the  butcher.  Let  the  farmer  at  least  do  something: 
let  him  either  sell  them  at  once,  reckoning,  and  generally  rightly,  that 
the  first  loss  is  the  least;  or  let  him  set  to  work  and  endeavour  to 
combat  the  disease : but  do  not  let  him  stand  with  folded  arms,  and 
suffer  the  best  of  his  flock  to  dwindle  away  one  after  another. 

As  for  the  medical  treatment  of  the  rot  in  sheep,  there  are  a great 
many  nostrums,  but  few,  if  any,  have  stood  the  test  of  extensive 
experience.  This  has  partly  arisen  from  a cause  which  has  already 
been  hinted  at — the  disease  not  being  recognised  and  attacked  before 
it  has  made  much  inroad  on  the  constitution,  and  when,  or  perhaps 
when  only,  it  will  yield  to  medicine.  But  I believe  that  with  regard 


THE  ROT. 


207 


to  the  fairest  cases  every  medicine  has  occasionally  failed,  or  failed 
almost  ao  often  as  it  has  succeeded.  We  must  in  no  case  despair: 
the  disease  has  sometimes  been  suspended,  and  the  sheep  has  reco- 
vered. Let  not,  however,  the  practitioner  be  deluded  into  the  use  ol 
calomel,  or  blue-pill,  or  any  preparation  of  mercury,  because  the  rot 
is  an  affection  of  the  liver.  Mercury  rarely  seems  to  agree  with  the 
herbivorous  animals  in  any  form.  I have  seen  it  do  much  harm  in 
some  affections  of  the  liver,  and  I have  known  many  animals  de- 
stroyed by  the  use  of  it. 

There  is,  however,  a drug,  or,  rather,  a very  common  and  useful 
condiment,  which  I believe  has  entered  into  the  composition  of  every 
medicine  by  which  this  complaint  has  been  successfully  treated ; I 
mean  common  sail.  The  virtues  of  this  substance  are  not  sufficiently 
estimated,  either  as  mingled  with  the  usual  food,  or  as  an  occasional 
medicine.  All  herbivorous  animals  are  fond  of  it.  It  increases  both 
the  appetite  and  the  digestion.  Cattle  will  greedily  eat  bad  forage 
that  has  been  sprinkled  with  it,  in  preference  to  the  best  fodder  with- 
out salt;  and  it  seems  now  to  be  a well-ascertained  fact,  that  domes- 
ticated animals  of  all  kinds  thrive  under  its  use,  and  are  better  able 
to  discharge  the  duties  required  from  them. 

The  consideration  of  this  induced  the  use  of  salt  in  various  com- 
plaints, and  especially  in  the  rot,  which  is  an  affection  of  one  of  the 
most  important  of  the  digestive  organs ; and  it  has  not  deceived  the 
expectations  that  were  raised  as  to  its  sanative  power. 

As,  however,  the  rot  is  a disease  accompanied  by  so  much  debility, 
and  wasting  of  flesh  as  well  as  of  strength,  tonics  and  aromatics  are 
usually  mingled  with  the  salt;  but  first  of  all  the  bowels  are  evacu- 
ated by  some  of  the  usual  purgatives,  and  the  Epsom  salts  are  the 
best.  The  following  prescription  should  then  be  tried  : — 

RECIPE  (No.  10). 

Mixture  for  the  Rot. — Take,  common  salt,  eight  ounces;  powdered  gentian,  two 
ounces  ; ginger,  one  ounce  ; tincture  of  Colombo,  four  ounces:  put  the  whole  into  a 
quart  bottle,  and  add  water  so  as  to  fill  the  bottle. 

A table-spoonful  of  this  mixture  should  be  given  morning  and  night 
for  a week,  and  then  the  following  mixture  may  be  given  at  night, 
while  the  former  is  continued  in  the  morning,  and  by  which  the 
flukes  will  be  destroyed,  as  the  worms  in  the  bronchial  tubes  some- 
times are  in  the  hoose  of  young  cattle. 

RECIPE  (No.  11). 

Second  Mixture  for  the  Rot. — Take,  of  recipe  No.  10  (above),  a quart ; spirit  of  tur 
pentine,  t hree  ounces  : shake  them  well  together  when  first  mixed,  and  whenever  the 
medicine  is  given.  Two  table-spoonfuls  are  the  usual  dose. 

The  morning  dose  should  be  oiven  on  an  empty  stomach,  and  the 
evening  dose  before  the  night’s  feed  is  given,  if  the  animal  is  housed. 

All  the  hay  should  be  salted,  and  some  have  recommended  that 
even  the  pasture  should  be  impregnated  with  salt.  This  is  easily 
managed.  A little  plot  of  ground  may  be  selected,  or  a portion  of  a 


208 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


fleld  hurdled  off,  and  salt  scattered  over  it  as  equally  as  possible,  and 
in  the  proportion  of  ten  bushels  to  an  acre.  Three  weeks  afterwards 
the  sheep  may  be  turned  on  it  to  graze,  stocking  the  ground  after  the 
rate  of  ten  sheep  to  an  acre;  in  the  meantime  the  field  from  which 
they  are  taken  may  be  brined  in  the  same  manner.  When  they  have 
eaten  the  grass  quite  close,  they  may  be  changed  back  to  the  other 
plot,  and  so  on  as  often  as  may  be  necessary,  strewing  at  each  change 
five  bushels  of  salt  per  acre  on  the  pasture.  The  sheep  will  fatten 
at  a rapid  rate  if  the  disease  is  not  too  much  advanced,  and  the  dis- 
ease will  sometimes  be  arrested  even  in  the  worst  cases. 

It  must,  however,  be  confessed,  that  although  sheep  are  often  saved 
from  the  rot  by  the  use  of  salt,  they  have  rarely  been  perfectly  restored 
to  their  former  health.  The  taint  is  left;  they  are  more  disposed  to 
receive  the  infection  from  a slight  cause;  and,  six  or  twelve  months 
afterwards,  they  frequently  die  of  hoose  or  inflamed  bowels : there- 
fore, it  will  be  the  interest  of  the  farmer  to  fatten  them  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  sell  them  to  the  butcher.  The  butcher  will  always  tell 
by  the  appearance  of  the  liver  wh-ether  the  sheep  had  at  any  former 
time  been  rotted.  In  some  few  cases  lambs  have  been  procured  from 
ewes  thus  cured,  but  they  have  seldom  lasted  longer  than  one  or  twc 
seasons. 


SECTION  XI. 

THE  FOOT-ROT. 

Although  this  disease  resembles  the  last  in  name,  it  is  altogether 
different  in  character.  It  is  not  so  fatal  as  the  liver  rot,  but  it  is 
sadly  annoying : it  is  of  very  frequent  occurrence,  and  it  seems  to  be 
increasing. 

It  is,  like  the  rot,  peculiar  to  certain  pastures;  but  there  is  more 
variety  in  this  than  is  found  with  regard  to  the  rot.  There  we  must 
have  stagnant  water,  and  the  process  of  evaporation  going  forward. 
For  the  production  of  the  foot  rot  we  must  have  soft  ground , and  it 
does  not  seem  much  to  matter  how  that  softness  comes  about.  In 
the  poachy  and  marshy  meadow,  in  the  rich  and  deep  pasture  of  the 
lawn,  and  in  the  yielding  sand  of  the  lightest  soil,  it  cannot,  perhaps, 
be  said  that  it  is  almost  equally  prevalent,  but  it  is  frequently  found. 
Soft  and  marshy  ground  is  its  peculiar  abode.  The  native  mountain 
sheep  knows  nothing  about  it : it  is  when  the  horn  has  been  softened 
by  being  too  long  in  contact  with  some  rich  and  moist  land,  that  the 
animal  begins  to  halt.  This  softness  is  connected  with  unnatural 
growth  of  horn,  and  with  unequal  pressure;  and  the  consequence  is 
that  some  part  of  the  foot  becomes  irritated  and  inflamed  by  this 
undue  pressure,  or  the  weakened  parts  of  the  horn,  too  rapidly  and 
unevenly  growing,  are  broken  off,  and  corroding  ulcers  are  pr«du?ed 


THE  FOOT -ROT* 


209 


Although  there  would  not  appear  to  be  any  great  wear  and  tear  oJf  the 
oot  in  this  soft  land,  yet  the  horn  becomes  so  exceedingly  unsound 
and  spongy,  that  small  particles  of  sand  or  gravel  make  their  way 
through  the  softened  mass,  and  penetrate  to  the  quick.  It  not  unfre- 
quently  happens  that  injuries  of  this  sort  are  produced  unconnected 
with  and  independent  of  the  foot-rot,  and  they  may  be  cured  much 
easier,  but  by  very  similar  means.  The  hardness  or  the  sponginess 
of  the  horn  depends  altogether  on  the  dryness  or  moisture  of  the  soil 
in  which  the  animal  has  fed.  Large,  heavy  sheep,  having  compara- 
tively thinner  hoofs  than  lighter  ones,  are  more  subject  to  the  disease. 

True  foot-rot  more  frequently  begins  from  above  than  below.  The 
horn  is  rendered  softer,  weaker,  and  more  luxuriant  by  exposure  to 
wet:  the  foot,  from  being  kept  wet  and  cold,  is  exposed  to  re-action 
with  any  change  of  weather,  and  inflammation  is  thus  excited  within 
the  foot,  which  often  ends  in  suppuration,  and  this  occasions  those 
troublesome  ulcers  that  are  sometimes  witnessed. 

The  first  symptom  of  the  disease  is  the  lameness  of  the  sheep. 
On  the  foot  being  examined,  this  morbid  growth  is  almost  invariably 
found.  The  foot  is  hot,  and  the  animal  shrinks  if  it  is  firmly  pressed. 
It  is  particularly  hot  and  painful  in  the  cleft  between  the  two  hoofs; 
and  there  is  generally  some  enlargement  about  the  coronet.  There  is 
always  an  increased  secretion,  usually  fetid,  and  often  there  is  a wound 
about  the  coronet  discharging  a thin,  stinking  fluid : sometimes  there 
is  a separation  of  the  horn  from  the  parts  beneath,  and  that  too  fre- 
quently preceding  the  dropping  off*  of  the  hoof.  In  comparatively  a 
few  cases  the  hoofs  seem  to  be  worn  to  the  quick  at  or  near  the  toe 
The  lameness  rapidly  increases,  and  often  to  such  a degree  indeed 
that  the  sheep  is  unable  to  stand,  but  moves  about  the  field  on  its 
knees.  The  soft  portions  of  the  foot,  and  sometimes  the  very  bones 
of  it,  slough  away,  and  drop  off. 

All  this  is  necessarily  attended  by  a great  deal  of  pain,  and  the 
animal  shows  how  much  it  preys  upon  him  by  his  moaning,  and  re- 
fusing to  eat,  and  ceasing  to  ruminate,  and  most  rapidly  wasting. 
Irritating  fever  comes  on,  and  after  the  poor  creature  has  crept  about 
the  field  on  his  knees  for  a few  weeks,  he  dies  from  irritation  and 
starvation. 

Of  one  thing  the  farmer  may  be  assured  — that  the  foot-rot  is  ex- 
ceedingly infectious.  If  it  once  gets  into  a flock,  it  spreads  through 
the  whole.  Some  valuable  writers  have  denied  this;  but  there  is 
scarcely  a farmer  who  has  not  had  woful  experience  of  the  truth  of  it. 
Even  on  the  dryest  soil  the  greater  part  of  the  flock  have  become  lame 
in  a very  few  weeks  after  a diseased  sheep  has  come  among  them. 
There  are,  however,  some  instances  in  which  a sheep  with  the  foot- 
rot  has  grazed  among  others  during  several  months,  and  no  disease 
has  ensued  ; and  some  curious  experiments  would  make  it  appear 
that  under  particular  circumstances  it  is  difficult  to  produce  foot-rot  by 
inoculation.  But  these  are  exceptions  to  the  general  rule;  and  he  who 
trusts  to  the  non-contagiousness  of  foot-rot  will  suffer  as  assuredly  as 
18* 


210 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


the  man  who,  deluded  by  some  of  the  mischievous  theories  of  th*  day 
believes  that  he  may  keep  a glandered  horse  in  his  stable  with  im- 
punity. 

The  treatment  of  foot-rot  is  simple  enough,  and,  in  the  early  stage 
of  the  complaint,  usually  successful.  The  foot  must  be  carefully 
examined,  and  every  portion  of  horn  that  has  separated  from  the  parts 
beneath  thoroughly  removed,  and  the  sore  lightly  touched  with  the 
butyr  (chloride)  of  antimony,  applied  by  means  of  a small  quantity 
of  tow  rolled  round  a flat  bit  of  stick,  and  then  dipped  into  the  caustic. 
A stronger,  and  oftentimes  a better,  application  is  made  by  dissolving 
eorrosivo  sublimate  in  spirits  of  wine.  Hydrochloric  acid  is  also  a 
very  useful  caustic  for  foot-rot.  If  a fungus  is  sprouting  at  the  place 
where  tho  horn  separates  from  the  foot,  it  must  be  first  cut  away  with 
the  knife,  and  then  the  root  of  it  touched  also  with  the  caustic ; or, 
wnat  is  still  better,  it  may  be  removed  by  means  of  a hot  iron.  It  is 
necessary,  indeed,  to  be  rather  sparing  with  the  use  of  the  knife 
thivughout  the  disease.  There  will  seldom,  except  in  very  bad  cases, 
be  necessity  for  binding  the  foot  up  ; indeed,  the  animal  will  generally 
do  better  without  this.  It  will  be  seen  by  the  altered  colour  of  the 
part  A’hether  the  caustic  has  been  applied  with  sufficient  severity, 
and  the  dry  surface  which  will  be  formed  over  the  sore  will  protect  it 
from  all  common  injury  better  than  any  covering. 

Tc  these  must  be  addod  that  reasonable  and  successful  practice  of 
removing  the  sheep  to  higher  ground.  Sheep  among  whom  the  foot- 
rot  is  beginning  to  appear  are  sometimes  completely  cured  by  being 
driven  to  higher  and  dryer  ground.  Some  farmers,  and  with  a great 
deal  of  advantage,  have  their  flocks  driven  four  or  five  times  daily 
along  a hard  road.  They  thus  accomplish  two  purposes  — they  wear 
away  the  irregularly  formed  horn,  the  unequal  pressure  of  which  has 
irritated  and  inflamed  the  foot,  and  the  remaining  horn  is  hardened, 
and  enabled  better  to  resist  the  influence  of  the  moist  or  soft  ground. 
Where  the  ulceration  is  extensive,  means  must  be  adopted  similar  to 
those  recommended  for  the  treatment  of  foul  in  the,  foot  in  cattle;  but 
in  most  cases  it  will  be  more  profitable  to  the  farmer  to  destroy  the 
sheep  that  has  bad  foot-rot,  if  it  is  in  tolerable  condition,  rather  than 
rely  on  a cure  that  is  uncertain,  and  during  the  progress  of  which  the 
animal  very  rapidly  loses  flesh  and  fat. 

If,  however,  he  is  determined  to  attempt  a cure,  let  him  wash  the 
foot  well  from  all  grit  and  dirt,  and  then  cut  off  every  loose  and  de- 
tached piece  of  horn,  and  every  excrescence  and  fungus,  and  covet 
the  wound  with  the  following  powder : — 

RECIPE  (No.  12). 

Caustic  Astringent  Powder  for  Foot- Rot.— Take  verdigris;  bole  armenian  , and 
*ugar  of  lead,  equal  parts.  Rub  them  well  together,  until  they  are  reduced  to  a fine 
powder. 

This  should  be  sprinkled  over  the  sore,  and  a little  dry  tow  p.aced 
upon  it,  and  bound  neatly  and  firmly  down  with  tape.  The  animal 
should  afterwards  stand  in  a dry  fold-yard  for  four-and-twentv  hour* 


THE  FOOT- ROT. 


211 

On  the  next  day  the  tape  should  be  removed,  and  if  the  surface  is 
tolerably  regular,  it  may  be  touched,  as  already  directed,  with  the 
butyr  of  antimony;  but  if  any  fungus  remains,  the  powder  must  be 
applied  another  day.  The  fungus  no  longer  continuing  to  grow,  a 
light  dressing  with  the  butyr  should  be  continued  every  second  day 
until  the  animal  is  well.  Some  prefer  a liniment  or  paste  to  the 
powder,  and  it  is  made  by  mixing  the  powder  with  a sufficient  quan- 
tity of  honey.  The  farmer  may  use  which  he  pleases ; but  a firm  and 
equable  pressure  being  produced  by  the  tape  is  the  principal  thing  to 
be  depended  upon. 

The  sheep-master  should  as  carefully  avoid  the  ground  producing 
foot-rot,  as  that  which  causes  the  fatal  affection  of  the  liver ; and  he 
should  attempt  the  same  method  of  altering  the  character  of  the  low 
and  moist  ground  by  good  underdraining.  The  effect  of  this,  how- 
ever, is  far  from  being  so  certain  and  beneficial  as  with  regard  to  the 
rot.  The  water  which  would  stagnate  on  the  surface  may  be  drained 
away  with  tolerable  ease,  but  the  soil  cannot  be  rendered  hard  and 
dry,  or,  if  it  could,  that  would  not  be  an  advantageous  change.  The 
sheep  might  not  have  the  foot-rot,  but  the  ground  would  be  compara- 
tively unproductive. 

If  the  farmer  intends  to  drive  his  sheep  a considerable  distance  to 
he  market  or  fair,  he  will  prepare  them  for  the  journey  by  a few  days’ 
‘removal  to  harder  and  firmer  ground,  or,  perhaps,  by  driving  them  a 
short  distance,  daily,  on  the  still  harder  public  road. 

The  farmer  should  not  only  take  his  sheep  from  light  sandy  soil  in 
long-continued  dry  weather,  because  they  would  starve  there,  but 
because  then  alone  that  soil  would  give  them  the  foot-rot:  its  yielding 
nature  will  not  sufficiently  keep  down  the  growth  of  horn,  and  many 
a particle  of  sand  will  insinuate  itself  into  the  soft  and  spongy  horn, 
and  produce  inflammation.  For  the  same  reason  he  should  avoid  dry 
old  pasture  at  the  season  when  the  dews  are  heaviest,  because  then 
moisture  would  most  abound  there. 

In  grounds  that  are  disposed  to  give  the  foot- rot,  the  farmer  would 
find  it  advantageous  to  have  the  hooves  of  his  sheep  rasped  or  pared 
once  every  fortnight  or  three  weeks.  This  is  not  often  done,  but  it 
appears  reasonable,  and  would  not  be  very  expensive.  In  uninclosed 
or  mountainous  countries,  where  the  sheep  have  particular  tracts, 
gravel  might  be  scattered  in  sufficient  quantity  to  wear  and  harden 
the  horn. 

[This  disease  is  among  the  greatest  scourges  to  which  sheep  are  liable  in  America, 
but  writers  generally  regard  it  as  not  difficult  to  be  cured.  J.  R.  Speed,  of  Caroline, 
Tompkins  county,  New  York,  found  a valuable  merino  buck  much  afflicted  with  it, 
and  not  having  at  hand  the  ingredients  recommended  in  the  Complete  Grazier  and 
other  books,  he  “took  down  that  cure-all  among  farmers,  my  bottle  of  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine, and  with  a feather  applied  it  to  the  parts  affected  quite  plentifully  twice  of 
three  times  in  the  space  of  three  days,  (keeping  him  on  a dr;  floor)  when  I found  a 
perfect  cure  had  been  effected.” 


215 


DISEASES  OP  SHEEP. 


Mr.  Jewel,  of  Vermont,  speaking  on  ample  experience,  says—41  The  foot -rat  is  «« 
infectious  disorder  which  locates  between  the  hoofs,  and  unless  immediate  attention 
is  rendered,  it  operates  under  the  horns  of  the  hoof.  It  is  more  easily  cured  in  the 
winter,  or  where  the  infection  freezes.  If  thoroughly  seated,  it  cannot  be  entirely 
eradicated  from  the  flock  in  warm  weather,  unless  they  are  permitted  to  run  in  a 
fresh  pasture  where  there  is  no  exposure  after  the  treatment,  which  is  this— first,  the 
foot  must  be  pared  if  infected,  and  all  the  ulcerous  matter  removed ; then  apply  with 
a swab,  zig,  or  water  strongly  saturated  with  pulverised  blue  vitriol.  When  tho. 
roughly  done,  the  rot  will  be  removed,  and  the  foot  will  be  healed  in  four  or  fivj 
days.  It  is  very  important  that  the  diseased  animals  should  be  separated  from  the 
flock.  Fine*woolled  sheep,  and  those  that  have  long  hoofs,  are  much  more  subject 
to  the  rot,  and  more  troublesome  to  cure.  It  spreads  by  inoculation  only,  and  rage*' 
worse  in  low  wet  grounds.  It  is  important  that  they  should  be  examined  every  week 
until  cured,  which  will  require  three  or  four  thorough  examinations,  where  the  ulcer 
ation  is  confirmed. 

By  using  a trough,  the  description  of  which  you  have  in  the  cut  below,  the  foot 
can  be  examined  with  ease;  and  where  there  is  a large  flock,  there  is  a great  saving 
in  time  and  labour. 


The  figure  represents  a trough  which  will  conveniently  hold  two  sheep,  with  thsii 
feet  uppermost.  The  frame  simply  consists  of  a plank  about  six  feet  in  length,  in 
which  four  legs  are  fastened  eighteen  inches  long.  Six  arms  are  extended  from  the 
upper  side  of  the  frame,  which  supports  the  side-boards  A A,  six  feet  long  arid  thir- 
teen inches  wide,  and  forms  a trough  about  one  foot  in  width  at  the  top  and  four 
inches  at  the  bottom.  This  trough  should  stand  near  the  door  of  another  dry  yard, 
where  the  sheep  must  remain  an  hour  or  so  after  the  application  of  the  vitriol,  which 
should  be  applied  between  the  toes  of  every  foot.  By  the  assistance  of  this  apparatus 
three  men  can  go  over  from  three  to  four  hundred  sheep  in  a day. 

Another  very  simple  remedy  is  recommended  by  T.  Baynes,  of  Wilmington,  Dela- 
ware. “ Take  a few  bushels  of  lime , and  put  it  near  some  place  where  the  sheep 
have  to  pass,  say  the  bars,  and  as  it  is  natural  for  sheep  to  jump,  take  notice  where 
they  alight,  and  place  the  lime  there  about  three  inches  deep.  This  did  effectually 
cure  my  flock  in  about  a week.  The  lime  should  be  fresh  and  slacked,  and  not  lest 
than  three  inches  deep;  if  deeper  it  might  take  the  hair  off  the  leg  above  the  hoof."— 
Cultivator  The  lime  might  be  more  conveniently  and  perfectly  applied  by  meant 
of  the  trough,  of  which  a drawing  is  given,  for  the  examination  of  sheep.  — S.j 


THE  ft  <J  A it 


213 


SECTION  XII. 

THE  SCAB. 

This  is  a most  troublesome  and  infectious  disease,  and  generally 
jo  be  attributed  to  bad  management.  Sheep  that  have  been  too  much 
exposed  to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  or  that  have  been  half- 
starved,  and  thus  debilitated,  are  most  subject  to  it.  The  forest  sheep 
are  particularly  liable  to  the  scab.  It  is  first  discovered  by  the  animal 
eagerly  rubbing  himself  against  every  post,  or  gate,  or  bank,  or,  if  the 
itching  is  very  great,  tearing  off  his  fleece  hy  mouthfuls.  He  looks 
thin  and  ragged  ; and  if  he  is  caught,  there  will  appear  on  various 
parts,  and  particularly  along  the  back,  either  little  red  pustules,  or  a 
harsh  dry  scurf.  The  pustules  speedily  break,  and  the  scurf  succeeds. 
The  roots  of  the  wool  are  matted  together  by  it,  and  portions  of  the 
fleece  come  off  with  almost  the  slightest  touch. 

No  one  ever  doubted  the  infectiousness  of  this  disease,  or  suffered 
a scabbed  sheep  to  enter  his  flock  without  dearly  rueing  it.  Every 
post,  or  stone,  or  tree,  against  which  it  has  rubbed  itself,  seems  to  be 
empoisoned.  Every  sheep  that  comes  in  contact  with  it  is  infected. 

The  itching  of  the  eruption  preys  upon  the  sheep  almost  as  rapidly 
fts  the  foot-rot.  A scabbed  sheep  is  a poor  hungry-looking,  half 
starved  creature;  his  fleece  is  spoiled,  and  he  is  useless  for  the 
butcher. 

Sheep  proprietors  used  to  be  fond  of  various  lotions  for  the  cure  of 
scab.  Some  applied  a strong  solution  of  tobacco,  others  a solutioi. 
of  sal  ammoniac,  and  others  one  of  corrosive  sublimate.  If  these  are 
ever  used,  they  should  not  be  made  too  strong,  for  many  an  animal 
has  been  destroyed  by  them  all.  Not  more  than  a quarter  of  a pound 
of  tobacco  should  be  boiled  or  infused  in  a gallon  of  water,  nor  more 
than  an  ounce  of  corrosive  sublimate,  and  which  should  be  previously 
dissolved  either  in  muriatic  acid  or  spirit  of  wine.  The  sal  ammoniac 
rarely  did  much  harm,  but  on  the  other  hand  it  more  rarely  did  good, 
and  when  used  with  the  corrosive  sublimate  seemed  to  impair  its 
powers.  There  are  those  who  have  preferred  a solution  of  arsenic  to 
either  of  the  others.  It  is  as  efficacious  as  any  of  them,  but  it  is  by 
far  the  most  dangerous. 

A great  tub  or  vat  used  to  be  procured,  and  half  filled  with  either 
of  these  solutions,  and  the  sheep  put  into  it  one  by  one,  and  well 
rubbed  and  washed  until  the  fluid  had  evidently  penetrated  the  fleece, 
and  come  into  contact  with  every  part  of  the  skin ; but  even  where 
these  lotions  succeeded,  they  gave  a peculiar  coarseness  and  harshness 
to  the  wool,  which  very  much  decreased  its  value.  The  scurfiness 
likewise  did  not  soon  come  off* ; or  when  it  did,  patches  of  the  fleece 
separated  with  it,  and  left  the  skin  beneath  it  red,  and  chapped,  and 
ulcerated. 


214 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


An  ointment  is  far  preferable,  for  it  softens  the  scurf,  and  detaches 
it  from  the  wool,  and  saves  the  fleece,  and  heals  the  chaps  and  ulcers 
of  the  skin,  and  promotes  the  future  growth  of  the  wool. 

The  mercurial  or  blue  ointment  in  a greater  or  less  degree  of  strength 
is  commonly  used ; and  if  used  with  caution,  the  real  strength  of  it 
being  previously  ascertained,  it  has  generally  a good  effect;  but  when 
bought  from  too  many  druggists,  the  quantity  of  mercury  is  so  varia- 
ble, and  so  many  tricks  are  played  with  it,  that  the  shepherd  scarcely 
knows  how  to  use  it,  and  too  often  salivates,  and  even  destroys,  some 
of  his  sheep. 

If  the  mercurial  ointment  is  to  be  used,  it  will  be  of  advantage  to 
the  farmer,  especially  if  he  has  many  scabbed  sheep,  to  make  it  him- 
self, and  that  he  may  very  easily  do  if  he  has  a wooden  pestle  and  a 
large  mortar  or  iron  pot. 

RECIPE  (No.  13). 

Mercurial  Ointment  for  Scab—  Take  crude  quicksilver,  one  pound ; Venice  turpen- 
tine,  half  a pound  ; spirit  of  turpentine,  two  ounces. 

These  should  be  rubbed  well  together  for  five  or  six  hours,  until 
they  are  perfectly  united  ; and  that  will  be  known  by  a little  being 
taken  and  rubbed  with  the  linger  on  a piece  of  glass.  If  not  the 
slightest  globule  can  be  detected,  the  killing  of  the  mercury  is  com- 
plete; but  if  the  smallest  shining  particle  can  be  seen,  the  substances 
are  not  sufficiently  mixed.  When  this  is  completed,  four  pounds  and 
a half  of  lard  should  be  added,  and  the  more  rancid  it  is  the  better 
for  it  more  readily  combines  with  the  mercury,  and  gives  it  additiona 
power.  This  lard  may  be  well  rubbed  with  the  mixture  of  mercury 
and  turpentine  on  a square  slab  of  marble;  or  it  may  be  melted,  and, 
when  about  the  temperature  of  new  milk,  added  to  the  other  ingre- 
dients, and  the  whole  stirred  together  until  the  ointment  becomes  stiff. 

If  the  ointment  is  made  during  the  summer,  it  will  perhaps  be  too 
fluid  to  be  thoroughly  rubbed  into  the  sheep.  It  may  penetrate  among 
the  neighbouring  wool,  or  run  off  and  be  lost.  When  this  is  the  case, 
one  pound  of  the  lard  should  be  omitted,  and  a pound  of  black  resin 
substituted. 

A great  deal  depends  on  the  manner  in  which  the  ointment  is  ap- 
plied. It  should  extend  to  every  part  that  is  in  the  slightest  degree 
affected,  and  it  should  be  gently  but  well  rubbed  in.  The  wmol  should 
be  carefully  parted  on  the  middle  of  the  back,  from  the  poll  to  the  tail, 
and  a little  of  the  ointment  rubbed  in  all  along  the  channel  thus  ex- 
posed. If  the  disease  is  slight,  another  furrow  may  be  made  on  either 
side,  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three  inches,  and  more  rubbed  in  ; but 
if  it  appears  to  be  inveterate,  the  divisions  should  be  made  at  two 
inches  distance  from  each  other,  and  over  every  part  that  is  affected. 
A second  dressing  may  be  applied  four  days  afterwards,  if  the  sheep 
continues  to  rub  itself,  but  it  would  not  be  safe  to  proceed  farther. 
If  the  sheep  should  yet  rub,  a milder  ointment  should  be  resorted  to, 
which  may  be  repeated  every  second  day  with  perfect  safety  until  the 
tnimal  is  cured.  Indeed  I should  be  very  much  disposed  to  use  the 


THE  SCAB. 


215 


milder  ointment  from  the  beginning,  because  I could  go  on  to  the  very 
end,  without  any  fear  of  unpleasant  consequences;  and  although  the 
cure  is  effected  more  slowly,  the  process  is  safer  and  surer. 

RECIPE  (No.  14). 

Mild  Ointment  for  Scab. — Take  flowers  of  sulphur,  a pound;  Venice  turpentine, 
four  ounces;  rancid  lard,  two  pounds ; strong  mercurial  ointment,  four  ounces.  Rub 
them  well  together. 

Flowers  of  sulphur  must  be  used,  and  not  the  common  black  sul- 
phur: that  is  the  refuse  of  the  sulphur,  and  is  almost  inert,  except  it 
derives  any  power  from  the  arsenic  which  is  generally  in  combination 
with  it,  and  that  would  be  a dangerous  power.  There  are  several 
instances  of  animals  being  destroyed  by  the  use  of  the  black  sulphu 
in  ointment,  which  had  been  empoisoned  with  arsenic. 

This  ointment  may  be  used  at  any  time  of  the  year;  but  the  mer- 
curial ointment  is  not  safe  in  cold  or  wet  weather. 

In  very  bad  cases  the  following  powerful  ointment  may  be  em- 
ployed : — 

RECIPE  (No.  15). 

Take  white  hellebore,  three  ounces;  bichloride  of  mercury,  two  ounces;  fish-oil, 
twelve  pounds;  resin,  six  ounces;  tallow,  eight  ounces.  The  two  first  ingredients  to 
be  mixed  with  a part  of  the  oil,  and  the  other  ingredients  to  be  melted  and  added. 

Prevention  is  here  again  better  than  cure,  and  the  practice  of  smear- 
ing, and  especially  in  cold  and  exposed  situations,  is  very  commend- 
able. It  is  not  a certain  preventive,  but  it  renders  the  animal  less 
likely  to  take  the  infection,  and  it  is  very  comfortable  and  useful  to 
the  sheep  in  protecting  him  from  the  cold,  and  hindering  the  wet  from 
penetrating  to  his  skin. 

RECIPE  (No.  16). 

Smearing  Mixture. — Take  a gallon  of  common  tar  and  twelve  pounds  of  any  sweet 
grease.  Melt  them  together,  stirring  them  well  while  they  are  cooling. 


Here,  as  in  dressing  for  the  scab,  the  wool  should  be  parted  in 
rows  from  the  head  to  the  tail,  three  or  four  inches  asunder,  and  the 
mixture  rubbed  carefully  with  the  finger  at  the  bottom  of  each  row. 
The  smeared  fleece  will  not  fetch  so  much  per  pound,  but  the  increase 
of  weight,  generally  in  the  proportion  of  five  to  four,  will  more  than 
compensate  for  the  diminution  in  price.  The  usual  time  for  smearing 
is  in  October,  and  the  sheep  are  hardier  and  warmer,  free  from  ver- 
min, and  generally  free  from  scab ; and  this  being  the  case,  they 
evidently  thrive  better,  are  sooner  fit  for  the  market,  and  weigh 
heavier. 

It  will  be  evident  enough  that  every  precaution  ought  to  be  taken 
to  prevent  the  re-appearance  of  this  disease.  Every  rubbing-place  f 
every  kind  should  be  thoroughly  washed  with  chloride  of  lime,  and 
every  sheep  that  begins  again  to  ferret  immediately  separated  from 
the  flock. 

The  scab  appears  under  an  exceedingly  virulent  form  in  some 
mountainous  parts  of  the  country,  and  particularly  in  Scotland  Mr. 
Stevenson,  in  his  communications  to  the  Highland  Society,  tbns  de- 


216 


DISEASES  OF  SIIEEP 


Bcribes  two  varieties  of  it.  The  first  he  curiously  calk  red-water , a a 
improper  term,  and  more  especially  as  the  same  name  is  given  to 
another  disease  to  which  sheep  are  subject.  He  says,  “This  disease 
commonly  makes  its  appearance  about  the  beginning  or  end  of  winter, 
and  first  appears  about  the  breast  and  belly,  although  at  times  it 
spreads  itself  over  other  parts  of  the  body.  It  consists  in  an  inflam- 
mation of  the  skin  that  raises  it  into  blisters,  which  contain  a thin, 
reddish,  and  watery  fluid  : these  continue  for  a short  time,  break,  and 
discharge  their  matter,  and  are  followed  by  a blackish  scab. 

“ When  the  sheep  are  exposed  to  cold  or  wetness,  the  skin  being 
fretted,  makes  the  blisters  rise ; or  they  often  arise  from  cold  affecting 
the  animal  internally,  thus  producing  a slight  fever,  which  throw's 
out  these  vesicles  on  the  body.” 

The  diseased  sheep  should  be  put  into  a fold  by  himself.  A little 
blood  should  be  taken,  and  the  blisters  slit  up,  and  a few  drops  of  the 
infusion  of  tobacco  put  into  them  ; a quarter  of  an  ounce  of  sulphur 
should  also  be  given  on  six  successive  mornings.  A dose  of  physic 
should  follow.  The  parts  affected  should  also  be  daily  washed  with 
lime-water. 

A more  violent  eruption  is  called  the  wildfire , probably  from  the 
-apidity  with  which  it  spreads.  It  is  more  infectious  than  the  scab, 
or,  probably,  it  is  one  of  the  worst  species  of  scab.  The  nitre  and 
sulphur  should  here  also  be  given  internally,  and  the  lime-water  ap- 
plied externally. 

[The  frequency  of  this  loathsome  and  highly  contagious  disease  induces  us  to  add 
the  following  from  the  Cultivator: — 

Among  sheep,  there  is  no  disease  so  common,  or  productive  of  so  much  injury, 
rertainly  not  in  the  United  States,  as  the  scab,  or  as  it  is  called  by  some,  the  itch. 
A sheep  affected  by  this  disease  is  restless,  rubbing  itself  violently  against  posts, 
fences,  or  whatever  is  in  its  way;  biting  and  tearing  out  the  wool  with  its  teeth, 
and  exhibiting  every  sign  of  intense  irritation.  On  examining  the  sheep,  the  skin 
will  be  found  red  and  rough,  with  usually  an  extensive  cutaneous  eruption,  or  an 
accumulation  of  small  pimples  or  pustules,  some  of  which  have  broken,  and  the 
matter  discharged  has  formed  patches  of  crust  or  scab,  from  which  the  common 
name  of  the  disease  is  derived.  The  fleece  on  a sheep  diseased  with  the  scab  will  be 
irregular  in  its  growth,  and  the  quality  inferior;  and  if  the  complaint  is  severe,  or 
long-continued,  the  health  is  impaired,  and  the  animal  pines  away  rapidly,  till  re- 
leased by  death.  The  rot  may  be  more  immediately  fatal,  and  produce  greater  losses 
in  Europe,  but  here  the  scab  is  more  injurious,  perhaps,  than  all  other  diseases  put 
together.  The  scab  is  one  of  the  most  infectious  of  diseases,  and  if  introduced  into 
4 flock,  unless  the  diseased  animals  are  immediately  removed,  the  farmer  may  de- 
pend on  the  whole  flock  being  infected,  and  both  sheep  and  wool  greatly  lessened  in 
value.  The  shoulders  and  back  are  the  places  first  usually  affected ; but  unless  check- 
ed, it  will  spread  until  the  whole  surface  is  diseased,  or  the  animal  perishes;  or  such 
is  the  usual  course  of  the  disease.  The  infection  seems  to  spread  in  two  ways;  by 
actual  contact  with  diseased  animals,  or  by  means  of  the  places  where  infected  sheep 
have  rubbed  themselves  or  lain.  As  pay  for  sheep  infected  with  scab  and  sold  for 
round  cannot  be  collected  in  Europe,  or  may  be  recovered,  much  attention  is  paid  ttf 


THE  SCAB 


217 


the  time  that  elapses  after  the  infection,  before  the  diseaae  appears  About  the 
twelfth  day,  it  is  stated  by  Youatt,  the  pustules  begin  to  appear,  and  the  rubbing  of 
the  animals  shows  the  irritation  has  commenced.  In  four  days  more  the  pustules 
break,  and  the  matter  escaping  forms  the  crust. 

After  it  was  found  that  the  itch  in  the  human  race  was  caused  by  an  insect,  a 
species  of  acarus,  it  was  supposed  that  similar  cutaneous  diseases  might  arise  from 
the  same  source.  M.  Waltz,  a German,  was  the  first  to  establish  this  point  and  fully 
investigate  its  character;  and  numerous  subsequent  examinations  have  proven  the 
correctness  of  his  opinion.  He  found  that  the  scab,  like  the  itch,  mange,  <fcc.,  i« 
caused  by  animalculae;  that  the  irritation  caused  by  his  burrowing  in  the  skin  forms  * 

the  pustule,  and  that  when  this  breaks,  the  acarus  leaves  his  habitation,  and  travels 
to  another  part  of  the  skin,  and  thus  extends  the  disease,  or  it  may  be  left  on  the 
rubbing  post,  or  the  wool  of  an  animal  coming  in  contact.  When  one  of  these  acari 
is  placed  on  the  wool  of  a sound  animal,  they  quickly  travel  to  its  roots,  where  the 
olace  of  burying  themselves  is  shown  by  a minute  red  point.  About  the  sixteenth 
day  the  pimple  or  pustule  breaks,  and  if  the  acari  is  a female,  it  appears  with  a mul- 
titude of  young.  These  immediately  set  to  work  on  the  skin,  bury  themselves,  and 
propagate,  until  the  poor  animal  is  irritated  to  death,  or  becomes  encrusted  with 
scab.  M.  Waltz  satisfactorily  traced  the  parasite  through  all  its  changes,  and  by 
experiments  discovered  all  its  modes  of  action  and  method  of  infection.  He  found 
that  when  the  male  acari  was  placed  on  a sheep,  it  burrowed,  the  pustule  was  formed 
but  the  itching  and  scab  soon  disappeared  without  the  employment  of  amy  refried}’. 

Such  was  not  the  case  where  the  female  acari  was  placed  on  the  sound  skin  ; as  with 
the  breaking  of  the  pustule,  from  eight  to  fifteen  little  ones  made  their  appearance. 

M.  Waltz  found  that  the  young  acari  kept  in  a dry  place  dried  and  crumbled  to  dust, 
but  when  old,  that  it  would  retain  its  life  through  the  whole  winter,  thus  proving 
the  necessity  of  not  relying  on  the  season  for  their  destruction,  but  on  preparations 
of  active  medicine  when  the  disease  shows  itself.  Of  the  origin  of  these  insects  we 
of  course  can  know  nothing ; it  is  enough  that  we  are  certain  when  they  make  their 
appearance,  they  can  be  met  and  destroyed. 

Various  remedies  have  been  recommended  for  the  cure  of  the  scab;  but  although 
the  sheep  acarus  is  very  different  in  form,  size,  and  colours  from  the  human  acarus, 
the  application  that  will  destroy  one  will  prove  fatal  to  the  other.  The  remedy  is 
the  destruction  of  the  acarus. 

A strong  decoction  of  tobacco,  of  hellebore,  or  a solution  of  arsenic,  will  cure; 
but  the  difficulty  with  washes  is,  that  the  burrowed  insect  sometimes  goes  untouched, 
and  unless  the  washing  is  repeated,  some  are  apt  to  escape,  and  the  disease  is  con- 
tinued. Owing  to  this,  it  has  generally  beefi  deemed  a safe  and  more  expeditious 
mode  to  use  the  mercurial  ointment.  When  used  too  strong  it  will  salivate  lambs 
or  ewes.  Where  the  cases  are  very  bad,  the  ointment  may  consist  of  one  part  of 
mercurial  ointment  or  unguentum,  with  three  parts  lard  ; but  for  ordinary  cases  of 
scab,  one  part  of  the  mercurial  ointment  to  five  of  lard  will  be  sufficiently  power  fill. 

The  wool  should  be  separated,  a small  quantity  placed  on  the  skin,  and  carefully 
rubbed  in.  The  extent  of  the  application  and  the  quantity  used  will  depend  on  the 
spread  of  the  disease,  from  half  an  ounce  to  two  ounces  being  demanded.  A decoc- 
tion of  tobacco  or  hellebore  will  cure,  but  as  before  remarked  it  may  be  necessary  to 
repeat  the  washing.  Arsenical  applications  are  effectual,  but  dangerous,  unless 
great  care  is  used.  Where  an  animal  has  been  washed,  or  ointment  applied,  infection 
is  generally  prevented;  but  whenever  the  scab  appears,  and  is  supposed  to  be  cured, 
examinations  at  the  end  of  every  few  days  should  take  place,  particularly  if  any 

19 


218 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP 


symptoms  of  itching  or  irritation  appear.  The  sheep-grower  should  pay  strict  atlen 
lion  to  the  health  of  his  animals,  and  such  care  and  attention  will  be  abundantlj 
repaid. 

Below  we  give  the  figures  of  the  acari , that  produce  the  scab  as  delineated  by  M 
Waltz: — 


(Fig.  28),  the  female  of  366  times  the  natural  size,  larger  than  the  male,  of  an  oval 
form,  and  provided  with  eight  feet,  four  before  and  four  behind  ; a the  sucker ; bbbh 
the  four  anterior  feet,  with  their  trumpet-like  appendices;  cc  the  two  interior  hind 
feet;  dd  the. two  outward  feet,  the  extremities  of  which  are  provided  with  some  long 
hairs,  and  on  other  parts  of  the  legs  are  shorter  hairs.  To  these  hairs  the  young 
ones  adhere  when  they  first  escape  from  the  pustule—  e,  the  tail,  containing  the  anus 
and  vulva,  garnished  by  some  small  hairs.  (Fig.  29)  The  male  on  its  back,  and 
seen  by  the  same  magnifying  power;  a the  sucker;  bbbb  the  fore-legs,  with  their 
trumpet  like  appendices,  as  seen  in  the  female  c c,  the  two  hind  legs,  with  the  same 
appendices  and  hairs  ; d the  rudiments  of  the  abdominal  feet ; e the  tail.  — S.] 


Sheep,  and  especially  if  they  are  neglected  and  poor,  are  often 
aadly  annoyed  by  these  vermin.  They  frequently  precede  the  scab: 
the  dreadful  itching  which  they  occasionally  cause,  prepares  for  oi 
produces  the  scab,  or  they  multiply  most  rapidly  when  the  skin  is 
fouled  by  the  scab.  The  sheep-louse  is  too  well  known  to  every 
shepherd  : it  is  of  a brownish  or  reddish  colour,  with  a flat  body,  and 
tnree  legs  on  either  side : the  tick  has  a large  round  body,  and  small 


SECTION  XIII 


LICE,  TICKS,  AND  FLIES 


LICE,  ETC. 


219 


chest  and  head,  which  he  buries  deep  into  the  skin,  and  by  means  of 
which  he  holds  so  fast  as  to  be  with  difficulty  torn  off.  The  lice  are 
propagated  by  means  of  eggs  or  nits : the  origin  of  the  tick  is  not  so 
well  understood. 

They  are  both  injurious  to  the  wool,  and  also  to  the  health  of  the 
animal,  from  the  constant  irritation  which  they  produce.  The  louse 
is  more  injurious  than  the  tick.  The  tick  only  buries  his  head  in 
the  skin ; the  lice  burrow,  anu  form  their  nest  in  or  under  it.  They 
collect  together,  and  a scab  soon  rises,  whence  a glutinous  matter 
proceeds.  The  scab  continues  to  increase  until  it  is  of  the  size  of  a 
sixpence,  and  undermines  and  destroys  the  roots  of  the  wool,  and  the 
fleece  comes  off  in  patches.  The  itching  then  becomes  intolerable, 
and  the  sheep  rub  themselves  eagerly  against  every  thing  within  their 
reach,  and  tear  off  the  wool  by  mouthfuls.  The  lice  are  thickes4 
about  the  throat  and  under  part  of  the  neck,  and  when  this  is  the  case 
it  has  sometimes  happened  that  the  sheep  has  been  seriously  injured 
or  even  destroyed  in  a very  curious  way.  He  bends  his  head  down, 
as  closely  as  he  can  to  get  at  the  vermin,  and  then  some  of  the  wool 
entangling  itself  about  the  teeth,  the  head  becomes  fixed,  and  the 
animal  is  said  to  be  bridled.  If  he  is  not  observed  and  relieved,  the 
head  will  be  held  until  the  muscles  are  seriously  injured,  so  that  he 
can  no  longer  comfortably  bend  his  neck  to  graze,  or  until  he  is  abso- 
lutely destroyed. 

Many  washes  have  been  invented  to  destroy  these  insects,  but  few 
of  them  have  perfectly  succeeded.  That  which  seems  to  have  the 
best  effect  is  thus  composed  : — 

RECIPE  ( No.  17). 

Arsenical  Wash  for  Sheep  Lice. — Take  arsenic,  two  pounds ; soft  soap,  four  pounds: 
dissolve  in  thirty  gallons  of  water. 

The  infected  sheep  should  be  immersed  in  this,  the  head  only  being 
kept  out;  and  while  he  is  in  the  liquid,  the  fleece  should  be  well 
rubbed  and  moulded,  so  that  the  wash  shall  penetrate  fairly  to  the 
skin.  When  taken  out  of  the  tub,  the  fluid  should  be  pressed  as 
thoroughly  as  possible  out  of  the  fleece,  which  will  then  do  for  another 
of  the  flock;  and  the  sheep  should  be  kept  from  cold  and  wet  fora 
few  days. 

Other  persons  prefer  the  following  lotion: — 

RECIPE  (No.  18). 

Mercurial  Wash  for  Sheep  Lice.— Take  corrosive  sublimate,  one  ounce;  spirits  of 
wine,  two  ounces;  rub  the  corrosive  sublimate  in  the  spirit  until  it  is  dissolved,  and 
then  add— cream  of  tartar,  one  ounce  ; bay  salt,  four  ounces:  dissolve  the  whole  in 
two  quarts  of  water,  and  apply  a little  of  it  with  a small  piece  of  sponge  wherever 
he  lice  appear. 

These  washes,  however,  are  not  always  safe,  and  they  are  very 
troublesome  in  their  application.  The  ointment  which  I have  re 
commended  for  the  scab  is  more  easily  applied,  and  more  effectual. 
It  may  be  rendered  more  fluid,  and  consequently  more  easily  rubbed 
in,  by  being  mixed  with  an  equal  weight  of  neat’s-foot  oil ; and  it 


220 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


should  be  as  carefully  applied  over  every  part  as  it  would  be  in  the 
act  of  smearing,  for  the  vermin  will  speedily  collect  and  burrow  in 
any  spot  which  the  ointment  may  not  have  reached. 

The  tick  is  many  times  as  large  as  the  louse,  but  not  so  frequently 
found.  When  not  gorged  with  blood  it  is  flat,  but  when  bloated  it  is 
round,  and  brown  or  black,  and  varies  in  size  from  a pin’s  head  to  a 
email  bean.  When  one  of  them  fastens  itself  upon  the  sheep,  it 
seems  to  retain  precisely  the  same  situation  for  some  weeks,  or  even 
months,  and  yet  the  young  ticks  are  found  round  the  old  ones,  resem 
bling  numerous  red  points,  but  becoming  brown  as  they  increase  in 
size.  They,  too,  select  the  sheep  that  is  debilitated  by  want  of  pro- 
per nourishment  or  by  disease. 

The  tick  is  more  frequent  on  some  grounds  than  on  others.  On 
some  farms,  even  although  badly  managed,  it  is  seldom  found;  on 
others  it  is  scarcely  to  be  got  rid  of,  even  although  the  sheep  should 
be  healthy.  It  would  seem  as  though  it  were  bred  in  the  ground, 
and  that  one  part  only  of  its  existence  is  spent  on  the  sheep.  Some 
shepherds  set  diligently  to  work,  and  pick  them  off.  This,  however, 
is  an  almost  endless  task.  Others  dress  the  sheep  with  turpentine, 
which  usually  destroys  them;  but  the  scab  ointment  is  the  surest 
remedy,  as  well  as  preventive. 

The  sheep  is  tormented  by  two  species  of  flies.  The  one  endea- 
vours to  lay  its  eggs  on  the  muzzle,  and  thence,  speedily  hatched  by 
the  moisture  and  warmth  of  the  breath,  the  animalcule,  or  larva, 
creeps  up  the  nostril,  and  finds  its  way  into  the  frontal  sinuses,  or 
some  of  the  cells  above  the  nose,  and  there  fastens  itself,  and  lives 
and  grows,  until  it  becomes  a large  worm  : it  then  creeps  again  dowr 
the  nostril,  assumes  the  form  of  a grub,  burrows  in  the  earth,  and  in 
due  time  appears  in  the  form  of  a fly.  It  is  only  during  the  time  of 
the  depositing  of  the  egg  that  the  sheep  are  disturbed  or  injured,  and 
then  they  may  be  seen  huddling  together  on  the  barest  part  of  the 
pasture,  with  their  noses  close  to  the  ground,  and  by  continual  shaking 
of  the  head  and  stamping,  endeavouring  to  prevent  the  depositing  of 
the  egg.  When  the  little  worm  has  reached  its  destined  situation,  it 
seems  no  longer  to  trouble  the  animal;  and  these  hots  are  found  in 
the  heads  of  some  of  the  largest  and  fattest  sheep.  This  is  the  des- 
tined place  of  this  worm,  and  nature  would  not  make  it  destructive, 
or  even  much  annoying,  to  the  animal  by  which  it  is  to  be  supported. 

Another  species  of  fly,  or  perhaps  several  other  species,  are  far 
more  troublesome  and  injurious.  At  some  uncertain  time  after  shear- 
ing, and  seemingly  oftener  occurring  to  those  that  were  early  than  to 
those  that  were  later  sheared,  the  sheep  will  be  struck  with  the  fly 
This  will  be  discovered  by  the  uneasiness  of  the  animal.  It  is  nol 
the  itching  of  scab,  for  it  is  before  the  usual  appearance  of  that  dis 
ease,  and  when  the  sheep  was  shorn  there  was  not  the  least  appear- 
ance of  it.  The  sheep  will  hang  down  their  heads,  stand  for  awhile 
as  if  listening,  then  bow  up  their  backs,  violently  shake  their  tails, 
stamp  furiously  with  their  feet,  gallop  away  for  a short  distance,  and 


LICK,  BTC.  291 

then  torn  round  and  try  to  bite  the  affected  part.  The  tail  is  evidently 
the  part  oftenest  attacked. 

On  being  caught,  there  will  probably  be  found  little  lumps  or 
bladders  on  various  parts,  but  particularly  about  the  tail ; and  if  these 
are  pierced,  they  will  be  found  to  contain  numerous  little  maggots. 
If  there  are  any  sores  about  the  animal  made  in  the  shearing,  they 
will  become  full  of  maggots  in  different  stages  of  maturity,  and  these 
vermin  will  crawl  through  the  wool,  over  almost  every  part  of  the  body. 

In  warm  weather  they  are  peculiarly  annoying  and  destructive.  I 
have  seen  them  spreading  from  the  root  of  the  tail  to  the  head  of  the 
sheep,  deepening  every  sore,  eating  even  through  the  sound  skin  in 
various  places,  and  penetrating  to  the  very  entrails. 

A sheep  struck  by  the  fly  should  not  be  neglected  a single  day,  for 
the  maggots  will  sometimes  do  irreparable  mischief  in  a very  short 
space  of  time.  The  wool  should  be  cut  off  round  the  places  where 
the  maggots  seem  principally  to  prevail,  and  they  should  be  carefully 
picked  out:  but  this  will  not  effectually  destroy  them;  for  many  will 
crawl  far  away  out  of  the  reach  of  the  looker.  Some  ointment  or  pow- 
der must  be  applied,  which  will  at  the  same  time  heal  the  sores  and 
destroy  the  maggot.  An  application  of  this  kind  may  be  obtained 
in  some  of  the  preparations  of  lead.  The  following  will  be  very 
useful : — 

RECIPE  (No.  19). 

Fly  Powder  for  Sheep.— Take  white  lead,  two  pounds ; red  lead,  one  pound ; and 
mix  them  together. 

While  one  man  holds  the  sheep  by  the  head,  let  another  have  a 
dredger  or  pepper-box  containing  some  of  the  powder  in  his  right 
hand,  and  a stick  in  his  left : let  him  introduce  the  stick  near  the  tail 
of  the  animal,  and  draw  it  gently  along  the  back  as  far  as  the  head 
raising  the  wool,  and  scattering  in  the  powder  as  he  proceeds.  Then 
let  him  dip  his  hand  in  some  of  the  coarsest  whale  oil,  and  smooth 
down  the  wool  again,  smearing  the  whole  of  the  fleece  with  the  oil. 
This  will  not  only  destroy  the  maggots,  but  prevent  the  future  attack 
of  the  fly.  There  are  few  flies  that  will  approach  anything  that 
smells  strongly  of  this  oil : it  would,  therefore,  be  a good  practice  to 
smear  the  sheep  with  a little  of  it  after  shearing.  No  injury  could 
possibly  be  done  to  the  wool,  but,  on  the  contrary,  its  growth  wou'io 
be  promoted. 

If,  however,  the  flies  have  made  any  deep  wounds  or  ulcers,  some 
of  the  powder  should  be  mixed  up  with  tar,  and  the  ointment  gently 
rubbed  on  the  sores. 

[Judge  Bostwick,  of  Delaware  county,  N.  Y.,  dips  his  Iambs  in  a decoction  ot  to- 
bacco, just  strong  enough  to  kill  the  ticks  in  a minute  or  two.  One  man  takes  the 
iamb  by  the  forelegs  and  head,  and  dips  him  in  the  vessel  so  as  just  to  leave  the  head 
out.  It  is  then  raised  and  held  over  the  kettle  while  another  presses  the  liquor  out 
of  the  fleece  back  into  the  kettle. 

Maggots  originating  from  fly-blows  on  wounds,  may  be  prevented  by  dressing  th« 
wound  with  tar,  and  may  be  destroyed  by  an  application  of  honey,  when  SDirits  of 
turpentine  would  prove  ineffectual.  — S. 

19* 


222 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


SECTION  XIV. 

SORE  HEADS 

This  disease  is  connected  with,  or  often  produced  by,  the  striking 
of  the  fly,  and  especially  in  woody  countries.  Next  to  the  tail,  the 
head  is  the  part  most  frequently  and  seriously  attacked,  and  in  defend- 
ing themselves  from  their  tormentors,  the  sheep  are  continually 
striking  their  heads  with  their  hind  feet,  until  at  length  a considerable 
sore  or  ulcer  is  foimed.  No  sooner  is  this  done,  than  the  fly  perse- 
cutes the  poor  animal  with  tenfold  fury,  anxious  to  lay  its  eggs  on  or 
near  the  wound  ; and  the  ulcer  will  often  spread  so  far  and  so  rapidly, 
as  to  be  very  difficult  to  heal,  and  occasionally  it  will  destroy  the 
sheep. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  procure  a cap  or  covering  for  the 
head,  made  of  soft  leather,  or  of  brown  paper,  if  leather  cannot  be 
procured.  This  should  be  cut  so  as  to  protect  the  whole  of  the  head, 
and  yet  not  to  come  too  close  to  the  eyes.  Then  the  following  oint- 
ment must  be  prepared 

RECIPE  (No.  20). 

Ointment  for  Sore  Heads  —Take  black  pitch,  two  pounds  ; tar,  one  pound ; floweri 
of  sulphur,  one  pound.  Melt  them  in  an  iron  pot  over  a very  slow  fire,  stirring  to- 
gether the  ingredients  as  they  begin  to  melt,  but  carefully  watching  the  compound, 
and  removing  the  pot  from  the  fire  the  moment  the  ingredients  are  well  mixed,  and 
before  they  begin  to  boil,  for  they  would  then  rapidly  swell  to  an  extraordinary  ex- 
tent, and  the  whole  mass  would  run  over  into  the  fire. 

While  this  ointment  is  warm  and  soft,  it  should  be  thickly  spread 
upon  the  leather,  and  the  cap  fitted  to  the  head.  If  this  be  done  in 
the  evening,  when  the  fly  begins  to  cease  to  torment  the  sheep,  the 
animal  will  be  quiet,  and  the  ointment  will  gradually  cool,  and  stick 
close  to  the  head. 

Some  spread  the  ointment  over  the  head  without  the  cap,  making 
a kind  of  charge,  a few  flocks  of  wool  being  scattered  over  the  top 
of  it;  and  if  it  should  be  somewhat  too  liquid  for  this  purpose,  it  is 
stiffened  by  the  addition  of  a little  yellowr  resin.  It  is  difficult,  howr- 
ever,  to  confine  the  ointment  to  the  sore  when  it  is  thus  applied,  and 
it  is  very  apt  to  run  over  the  eyelid  and  the  face,  to  the  great  annoy- 
ance of  the  animal. 

In  some  parts  of  Scotland  there  is  another  disease  of  the  head  that 
is  speedily  fatal.  If  the  sheep  are  suffered  to  rest  for  the  night  neai 
the  summit  of  the  Grampians,  or  the  hills  of  Galloway,  the  head  will 
become  enormously  swelled,  and  ulcers  wall  break  out,  as  if  the  animal 
had  been  bitten  by  a venomous  reptile.  A great  portion  of  the  scalp 
often  comes  off,  and  the  animal  generally  dies.  The  shepherds  there 
call  it  the  head-ill,  and  the  malady  is  kept  from  spreading  only  by 
removing  the  flock  from  these  elevated  and  dangerous  spots.  Th* 
cause  of  this  disease  is  uncertain : probably  it  is  produced  by  the  eat 
ing  of  some  poisonous  plant. 


DIARRHOEA,  OR  PURGING. 


223 


SECTION  XV. 

DIARRHEA,  OR  PURGING. 

The  full-grown  sheep  is  almost  as  subject  to  purging  as  is  the 
,amb,  but  it  is  not  so  difficult  to  be  cured,  nor  is  it  so  fatal.  A sheep 
«an  scarcely  be  turned  into  fresh  pasture  in  the  spring  without  begin- 
ning to  scour,  and  especially  when  warm  weather  is  succeeding  to 
cold,  and  the  grass  shoots  rapidly ; but  this  in  most  cases  is  bene- 
ficial rather  than  injurious.  It  rouses  the  digestive  organs  to  full  and 
healthy  action,  and  the  sheep  that  scours  a little  when  first  turned 
into  the  meadow  or  on  the  marsh,  is  sure  to  thrive  more  quickly  after- 
wards. The  purging,  however,  must  not  be  too  violent,  nor  continue 
too  long. 

The  looseness  caused  by  feeding  on  young  succulent  grass,  seldom 
lasts  more  than  a few  days;  but  if  it  should  continue  longer,  the 
sheep  must  be  removed  to  inferior  pasture,  and  a little  hay  allowed 
them  if  they  can  be  induced  to  eat  it : some  dry  sound  old  seeds  should 
also  be  put  before  them,  and  the  following  powder  administered : — 
RECIPE  (No.  21). 

Astringent  Powder  for  Sheep. — Take  prepared  chalk,  a quarter  of  an  ounce;  ginger, 
half  adrachm;  catechu,  powdered,  half  a drachm  ; powdered  opium,  two  grains.  Give 
this  in  a little  gruel  once  or  twice  daily  until  the  purging  abates. 

A favourite  remedy  with  some  farmers,  and  succeeding  in  slight 
cases,  but  inefficacious  in  severe  ones,  is  suet  boiled  in  milk.  Others 
give  a very  curious  medicine:  it  consists  of  the  lime  dug  out  of  an 
old  wall,  and  mixed  with  tar.  What  good  purpose  the  tar  can  an- 
swer, I cannot  conceive,  and  the  lime  would  be  superseded  by  the 
prepared  chalk  recommended  in  the  last  recipe. 

When  the  disease  abates,  the  sheep  must  not  be  turned  out  again 
on  their  former  pasture,  but  on  the  best  old  grass  land  which  the  farm 
will  yield ; and  even  then,  a little  good  hay  and  corn  should  be  daily 
allowed  them. 

The  farmer  should  be  careful  that  he  does  not  confound  the  conse- 
quence of  the  diarrhoea  with  costiveness.  When  there  is  much  mu- 
cous discharge,  it  is  very  sticky,  and  adheres  to  the  wool  under  the 
tail,  and  glues  it  to  the  rump,  thus  forming  a mechanical  obstruction 
to  the  passage  of  the  dung.  The  sheep  straining  very  hard,  careless 
observers  have  supposed  that  he  was  costive,  and  have  given  him  a 
strong  dose  of  physic,  and  thus  added  fuel  to  the  fire. 

There  is  but  one  form  of  the  disease  under  which  all  hope  is  pre> 
sluded,  and  that  is  when  it  is  connected  with  chronic  cough  or  con- 
firmed hoose.  That  animal  may  be  patched  up  for  a little  while,  but 
he  will  most  assuredly  perish. 

It  is  necessary  to  make  a distinction  between  diarrhoea  and  dysen- 
ery , the  latter  being  attended  with  considerable  fevei  snd  the  evacua- 


224 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


tions  are  often  slimy  and  bloody,  and  the  disease  sometimes  terminates 
fatally  in  a few  days.  It  sometimes  follows  diarrhoea,  hut  is  gene- 
rally produced  by  change  of  food  or  pasture  and  exposure  to  bad 
weather.  Lambs  are  rather  more  liable  to  the  disease  than  sheep, 
and  it  has  been  found  to  attack  them  very  frequently  on  coming  from 
low  lands  to  high.  The  treatment  should  consist  in  giving  mild  laxa- 
tives, such  as — 

RECIPE  (No.  22). 

Take  linseed-oil,  two  ounces  ; powdered  opium,  two  grains  ; to  be  mixed  with  lin- 
seed tea.  Linseed  and  oatmeai  gruel  should  be  given  several  times  a day,  and  the 
second  day  the  medicine  No.  21  should  be  administered. 


SECTION  XVI. 

INDIGESTION  AND  DEBILITY. 

Bad  management,  and  that  alone,  causes  the  appearance  of  these 
complaints  in  a flock.  When  sheep  have  been  over-driven,  and  ex- 
cessively wearied;  or  ewes  have  had  twins,  and  have  afterwards 
been  kept  with  their  lambs  on  scanty  pasture,  where  there  was  not 
enough  even  for  the  mother;  or  have  yeaned  very  early,  before  there 
was  any  flush  of  grass  ; or,  during  the  winter,  have  not  yet  been  sup- 
plied with  a proper  quantity  of  hay  or  corn  — in  all  these  cases,  the 
sheep  are  apt  to  pine  away.  They  do  not  seem  to  relish  their  food, 
but  wander  over  the  field  picking  a little  here  and  there,  the  belly 
being  tucked  up  and  the  back  bowed. 

The  remedy  for  this  is  simple  enough  if  the  sheep  have  not  been 
neglected  too  long.  It  is  plain  that  the  powers  of  digestion  are 
weakened  or  suspended,  and  the  object  to  be  accomplished  is  to  rouse 
them  once  more  to  their  proper  tone  and  action.  A mild  purgative 
should  lay  the  foundation  for  this.  Half  the  Purging  Drink  (No.  2. 
p.  200)  should  be  given,  and  this  followed  up  by  tonics  or  stomachics. 
Some  farmers  content  themselves  with  giving  a little  good  caudle  for 
two  or  three  successive  days,  and  with  general  good  effect,  except 
that  its  sweetness  is  objectionable.  The  following  mixture  will  be 
preferable : — 

RECIPE  (No.  23). 

Tonic  Drink  for  Debility  — Take  gentian  and  pondered  caraway-seeds,  of  each  an 
ounce  ; Colombo  and  ginger,  of  each  half  an  ounce.  Pour  a quart  of  boiling  water 
upon  them,  and  let  The  infusion  stand  three  days,  well  stirring  it  every  da}  Then 
Dour  off  the  clear  liquid,  and  bottle  it  for  use.  Give  a table-spoonful  daily,  in  * Utile 
gruel,  mixed  with  an  equal  quantity  of  good  ale. 

Repeat  the  half-dose  of  physic  a week  afterwards,  and  pul  the 
sheep  on  fresh  and  good  pasture. 


BLINDNESS. 


2*23 


SECTION  XVII. 

BLINDNESS. 

Sheep  are  more  subject  to  diseases  of  the  eye  that  lead  on  to  blind 
ness  than  many  persons  who  are  most  accustomed  to  them  imagine 
It  is  a singular  circumstance,  and  not  so  well  known  as  it  ought  to  be 
that  if  the  eyes  of  a flock  of  sheep  are  carefully  examined,  half  of 
them  will  exhibit  either  disease  then  present,  or  indications  of  that 
which  existed  at  no  very  distant  date. 

Inflammation  of  the  eye,  which  constitutes  the  commencement  of 
the  disease,  may  arise  from  various  causes.  Sheep  driven  fast  to  a 
distant  market  have  suddenly  become  blind ; those  who  have  been 
chased  about  by  dogs,  have  at  no  great  distance  of  time  lost  their 
sight,  and  especially  if,  in  both  cases,  they  were  afterwards  exposed 
in  a damp  and  bleak  situation.  The  violent  driving,  while  it  produced 
fever,  determined  an  undue  quantity  of  blood  to  the  head  : it  pressed, 
or  perhaps  was  effused  upon  the  origins  of  the  nerves  of  the  eye;  and 
the  after  neglect  confirmed  the  fever,  and  aggravated  the  mischief. 

At  other  times,  this  seems  to  be  an  epidemic  complaint.  The 
greater  part  of  the  flock  is  suddenly  afflicted  with  sore  and  inflamed 
eyes,  and  particularly  at  the  latter  end  of  the  year,  and  when  the 
weather  has  been  variable,  yet  cold  and  moist.  Some  have  thought 
that  this  complaint  is  infectious,  but  it  is  at  least  epidemic.  A white 
film  gradually  spreads  over  the  eyes,  which  the  animal  generally 
keeps  closed,  while  at  first  a watery  fluid,  and  afterwards  a thicker 
mucous  matter,  is  discharged  from  them.  The  film  increases  until 
the  whole  of  the  eye  is  of  a pearly  whiteness.  If  proper  means  are 
adopted,  and  often  if  nothing  is  done,  inflammation  abates,  and  the 
eye  begins  to  clear,  usually  commencing  at  the  upper  part  of  the  eye, 
and  gradually  proceeding  downward  until  the  whole  of  the  organ  is 
once  more  transparent,  with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  a diminutive 
spot  or  two,  or  a discoloration  of  part  of  the  iris.  Many  of  the  sheep, 
however,  do  not  perfectly  recover  the  sight  of  both  eyes,  and  some 
remain  totally  blind,  either  from  the  continuance  of  the  opacity,  or 
that,  while  the  eye  becomes  clear,  the  optic  nerve  is  palsied,  the  pupil 
does  not  dilate,  and  there  is  gutta  serena. 

The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  bleed  from  the  vein  at  the  corner  of 
the  eye.  There  will  be  the  double  advantage  of  bleeding  generally 
and  of  drawing  blood  from  the  inflamed  part  The  shepherd  should 
take  the  sheep  between  his  knees,  and  then  dacing  the  animal  with 
his  rump  against  the  wall,  he  will  have  full  ommand  of  him.  If  he 
now  presses  upon  the  vein  with  his  left  hanu,  about  two  inches  frorr 
the  angle  of  the  jaw,  and  opposite  to  the  third  grinder,  he  will  see  it 
rise  as  it  descends  from  the  corner  of  the  eye,  and  runs  along  the 
cheek.  He  should  puncture  it  about  an  inch  or  rather  less  from  the 
eye.  Some  shepherds  recommend  that  the  blood  should  be  suffered 


226 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP 


to  run  into  the  eye,  but  this  is  a ridiculous  notion.  It  must  do  harm 
rather  than  good. 

Next  give  the  Purgative  Drink  (No.  2,  p.  200),  and  repeat  if  ne- 
cessary, in  three  or  four  days.  No  other  medicine  will  be  required. 

No  stimulating  application  should  be  made  to  the  eye.  It  is  too 
often  the  practice  among  shepherds  to  apply  sugar  or  salt,  or  white 
vitriol : but  this  worse  than  uselessly  tortures  the  poor  animal ; it 
increases  the  inflammation,  and  causes  blindness  where  it  would  not 
otherwise  have  occurred.  A drop  or  two  of  the  vinous  tincture  of 
opium  may  be  introduced  into  the  eye,  two  or  three  times  daily ; oi 
a tea-spoonful  of  laudanum  may  be  added  to  a half  pint  of  water,  and 
the  eyes  frequently  washed  with  it. 

It  will  be  quite  time  enough  to  think  of  stimulants  if  the  eye  should 
remain  cloudy  after  the  inflammation  has  subsided,  and  then  the  fol- 
lowing is  the  strongest  that  can  be  permitted. 

RECIPE  (No.  22). 

Lotion  /or  Cloudiness  on  the  Eye.  — Take  corrosive  sublimate,  four  grains;  rub  it 
down  wirh  spirit  of  wine,  half  an  ounce;  and  add  water,  a pint. 

Although,  perhaps,  it  would  be  prudent  to  send  the  sheep  decidedly 
and  confirmedly  blind  to  the  butcher,  lest  they  should  perchance  be 
drowned  in  a ditch,  or  some  serious  accident  should  occur  to  them, 
yet  it  is  pleasing  to  observe  how  well  they  shift  for  themselves,  and 
what  little  harm  comes  to  them.  For  the  first  few  days  they  are 
awkward  and  confused,  but,  after  that,  they  keep  to  their  own  walk, 
and  take  with  the  others,  or  even  by  themselves,  the  accustomed  waj 
home ; and,  some  one  of  the  flock  takes  the  blind  sheep  under  his 
protection,  and  is  always  at  his  side  in  danger,  and  tells  him  the  way 
that  he  is  to  go  by  many  a varied  and  intelligible  bleat. 

[Grub  in  the  head  of  sheep,  is  a troublesome  disease  in  some  parts  of  the  United 
States. 

The  editor  of  the  Cultivator,  Vol.  X.,  says  : — The  Grub  in  the  head  of  a sheep,  is 
the  larva  or  maggot  of  a fly.  which  deposites  its  egg  in  the  nose,  generally  in  th€ 
month  of  August.  The  egg  soon  hatches,  and  the  young  maggot  soon  makes  its  way 
up  into' the  cavities  called  the  frontal  sinuses,  where  it  attains  its  growth,  causing 
constant  irritation  and  disease,  and  not  unfrequently  death.  Arrived  at  ita  growth, 
it  falls  to  the  earth,  enters  it,  and  in  a short  time  emerges  a perfect  insect  or  fly, 
ready  to  commence  the  career  of  re-production  and  destruction.  We  formerly  lost 
many  sheep  from  the  grub,  and  could  find  no  cure  for  them,  or  but  very  partial  ones, 
after  it  became  evident  they  were  diseased.  Our  course  was  preventative.  About 
tne  time  the  fly  made  its  appearance,  which  is  easily  known  by  their  exhibiting  great 
alarm,  running  from  one  p?  of  the  field  to  another,  with  their  noses  close  to  the 
ground,  &c.,  we  caught  one  heep,  and  with  a wooden  spatula,  or  flat  stick,  rubbed 
the  nose  with  tar.  We  tht  placed  tar  at  the  bottom  of  our  salting  troughs,  over 
which  the  salt  was  sprinkled,  and  this  brought  their  noses  frequently  in  contact  with 
the  tar.  This  course  we  found  a great  preventative.  Sheep,  during  the  period  they 
are  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  the  fly,  should  have  access  to  a ploughed  field,  or  if  such 
is  not  convenient,  a few  furrows  should  occasionally  be  opened  in  their  pastures  for 
their  benefit.  Inhaling  the  dust,  or  rubbing  their  noses  in  it,  renders  the  mucus  di» 


PR  ACTURE8,  ETC. 


M7 


ngree*Dio  ...c  fly,  or  enables  the  sheep  to  expel  the  larva  when  deposited  With 
these  preventatives,  we  have  rarely  lost  a sheep  from  the  grub,  and  think,  that  id 
most  eases,  they  will  be  effectual.  — S.] 


SECTION  XVIII. 

FRACTURES,  WOUNDS,  AND  BITES 

It  is  not  often  that  the  sheep  gets  a broken  bone  by  any  fault  ot 
his  own,  but  the  shepherd  is  sometimes  a brutal  fellow.  If  he  is  a 
youngster,  he  is  too  frequently  designedly  mischievous ; and  in  the 
struggle  between  a ^heep  and  the  dog  a leg  has  now  and  then  been 
broken.  The  treatment  of  fracture  below  the  elbow  or  the  hock  is 
easy  enough.  The  broken  limb  must  not  be  roughly  stretched  or 
handled,  but  the  divided  edges  of  the  bone  must  be  brought  gently 
and  as  perfectly  opposite,  and  close,  and  fitting  again  to  each  other 
as  possible,  and  kept  together  by  some  strips  of  adhesive  plaister  or 
pitch  spread  upon  leather  wound  round  the  part.  Over  this  splints 
should  be  placed,  reaching  a little  beyond  the  joint,  above  and  below, 
and  these  confined  with  more  plaister,  or  with  waxed  thread.  A little 
lint  or  linen  rag  should  have  been  previously  placed  under  the  end  of 
the  splints,  to  prevent  them  from  excoriating  or  injuring  the  part 
beneath.  This  being  done,  the  leg  should  not  be  meddled  with  until 
the  bandage  becomes  loose,  which  will  be  in  about  ten  days.  The 
splints  must  be  replaced  once,  and  at  the  expiration  of  another  ten 
days  the  edges  of  the  bone  will  generally  be  found  to  have  united  : 
the  animal,  however,  should  be  kept  for  a little  while  longer  as  quiet 
as  possible,  and  if  the  bone  is  not  quite  firm,  the  strips,  without  the 
splints,  should  be  once  more  bound  round  it. 

Sometimes  considerable  swelling  will  take  place  after  the  splints 
have  been  employed.  They  may  have  been  put  on  a little  too  tight, 
or  they  do  not  press  equally.  They  should  not,  however,  be  taken 
off  at  once,  for  the  bones  beginning  to  unite  may  again  be  separated 
during  the  removal  of  the  bandages ; but,  with  a sharp  and  strong 
pair  of  scissors,  two  or  three  notches  should  be  cut  through  the  edge 
of  the  bandage  above  and  below.  This  will  generally  afford  suffi- 
cient room  for  the  re-establishment  of  the  circulation,  and  the  swelling 
will  subside,  without  the  fracture  having  been  disturbed. 

If  it  should  be  a compound  fracture,  that  is,  if  a portion  of  the  bone 
should  protrude  through  the  skin,  either  the  setting  of  the  bones  must 
be  deferred  until  the  wound  is  healed,  or  the  bandages  must  be  so 
applied,  that  the  wound  can  be  readily  got  at  for  the  purpose  of  dress- 
ing. This,  howrever,  is  so  difficult  a matter,  that  it  will  be  prudent  to 
destroy  the  animal  that  has  a bad  compound  fracture. 


228 


DISEASES  OF  SHEEP. 


Sheep  are  faroftener  subject  to  wounds  than  they  ought  to  be,  iron 
the  ferocity  of  the  shepherd’s  dog,  encouraged  by  his  brutal  mastei 
needlessly  to  worry  the  flock.  They  are  too  frequently  seriously 
lamed,  and  the  ears  almost  torn  from  their  heads.  The  proprietor  of 
sheep  should  never  forgive  wanton  cruelty  of  this  nature. 

The  treatment  of  wounds  in  sheep  is  very  simple,  and  consists 
mostly  in  avoiding  the  burning  irons  and  caustics,  of  which  the  far- 
rier, and  sometimes  the  shepherd,  are  too  fond. 

The  first  thing  is  to  clean  the  wound  thoroughly  with  a sponge  and 
warm  water,  and  to  remove  those  parts  which  are  much  lacerated,  or 
in  a manner  torn  off.  If  it  is  a simple  cut  wound  and  the  edges  are 
not  far  separated,  all  that  will  be  necessary  to  be  done  will  be  to 
apply  daily  a little  tincture  of  aloes,  and  to  cover  the  part  that  the 
flies  may  not  deposit  their  eggs  on  the  sore.  If  it  is  a wide  and  gap- 
ing wound,  the  edges  of  it  must  be  brought  as  nearly  and  accurately 
together  as  possible,  and  confined  by  one  or  two  or  more  stitches 
passed  through  them  with  a crooked  needle  and  waxed  thread,  and 
which  the  shepherd  should  always  carry  with  him.  The  only  dress- 
ing wanted  here  will  be  the  tincture  of  aloes,  with  occasional  foment- 
ations if  there  is  much  inflammation;  but  the  wound  should  be  more 
carefully  covered  from  the  flies,  either  by  a bandage  or  pitch  plaister, 
or  for  a small  wound,  a little  tar  will  answer. 

No  dependence  is  to  be  placed  on  the  accounts  which  are  given  by 
some  authors  of  the  udders  of  the  ewes  being  sucked  by  snakes.  The 
reptile  has  never  been  seen  thus  employed  ; but  sheep  are  sometimes 
bitten  by  the  viper,  and  a few  have  been  destroyed  by  the  swelling 
having  been  neglected,  and  inflammation  widely  spreading.  It  is 
difficult  at  ail  times  to  discover  the  accident.  Whenever  a sheep  is 
lamed,  the  affected  limb  should  be  well  examined ; and  at  other 
times,  if  he  is  evidently  ill,  and  the  illness  accompanied  by  local  or 
general  swelling,  careful  search  should  be  made  into  the  nature  of 
the  mischief.  The  wound  inflicted  by  a viper  will  be  very  small, 
but  there  will  be  swelling  and  heat  about  it,  and  a great  deal  of  ten- 
derness. 

The  best  application  is  oil  of  turpentine,  which  should  be  well  rub- 
bed over  and  around  the  part ; while  a quarter  of  an  ounce  of  harts- 
horn, and  four  ounces  of  sweet  oil,  may  be  given  to  the  animal,  and 
repeated  in  half  an  hour  if  the  part  should  continue  to  swell,  or  the 
sheep  appear  to  be  seriously  ill.  Some  shepherds,  wThen  they' sus- 
pect an  accident  of  this  kind,  rub  the  part  well  with  an  onion,  and 
doubtless  with  considerable  effect : the  turpentine,  however,  is  more 
effectual,  and  should  be  obtained  as  speedily  as  possible. 


GENERAL  CA 


SECTION  XIX. 

GENERAL  CAUTIONS. 

1 will  conclude  this  account  of  the  diseases  and  treatment  of  she^ 
tfith  a few  general  observations,  which  may  be  useful  to  the  farmei 
a*  well  as  the  veterinary  surgeon. 

It  is  an  old  maxim,  and  a most  excellent  one,  that  prevention  is  iD 
every  case  far  better  than  the  cure ; and  there  cannot  be  the  least 
doubt  that  by  a little  attention,  and  the  exercise  of  common  humanity 
towards  these  useful  and  neglected  animals,  there  need  not  be  half 
the  diseases,  and  scarcely  a fourth  part  of  the  deaths  that  occur. 

In  the  first  place  the  farmer  should  look  more  than  he  does  to  the 
actual  state,  and  health,  and  comfort  of  his  flock.  Instead  of  riding 
or  walking  in  among  them  every  day,  and,  in  a manner,  making  every 
animal  pass  muster  before  him,  he  frequently  contents  himself  with 
looking  at  them  from  a distance,  or  perhaps  he  does  not  look  at  them 
at  all  for  many  a day. 

He  deserves  to  be  unfortunate  who,  in  the  lambing  season,  is  not 
early  and  late  among  his  ewes.  Many  a ewe  is  lost  by  rough  hand- 
.ing;  many  more  by  not  receiving  the  requisite  assistance  in  difficult 
parturition:  many  a lamb  is  deserted  by  its  mother;  many  a one  pal- 
sied by  lying  on  the  cold  wet  ground,  and  many  more  through  want 
of  being  frequently  and  carefully  suckled. 

The  owner  will  be  induced  by  a regard  to  his  own  interest  to  take 
into  due  consideration  many  a circumstance  connected  with  the  season 
and  state  of  his  flock,  that  would  never  enter  into  the  mind  of  the 
looker-on,  but  on  which  the  comfort,  and  thriving,  and  perhaps  the 
very  life  of  the  sheep  depend.  Many  a lamb  dies  for  want  of  a little 
shelter  in  an  inclement  season;  but  many  more  die  when  the  winte 
is  mild,  and  the  spring  is  early.  In  the  one  case  they  are  lost  from 
cold  and  starvation : in  the  other  from  being  in  too  high  condition, 
and  having  too  much  milk.  The  shepherd  will  often  go  on  in  the 
same  regular  way  whatever  be  the  state  of  the  season : it  is  the  pro- 
prietor alone  who  will  have  sufficient  consideration  to  allow  additional 
food  and  shelter  in  the  one  case,  and  in  the  other  to  stock  as  hardly 
as  may  be,  before  and  during  the  lambing.  The  proprietor  alone  will 
consider  as  much  as  he  ought  when  he  should  suckle,  and  feed,  and 
shelter  the  weakly ; and  keep  back  and  prevent  the  suckling,  and 
milk  the  dam,  and  stock  hard,  the  lambs  being  thriving  and  the  wea 
ther  kindly.  These  are  affairs  about  which  the  generality  of  lookers 
on  scarcely  concern  themselves,  and  into  which  the  best  of  them  will 
not  enter  so  anxiously  as  the  master. 

The  most  important  circumstance  to  be  attended  to  at  all  times 
and  particularly  at  the  lambing  season,  is  shelter, — not  confinement 
but  shelter  from  the  searching  north  and  east  wind.  There  should  nol 
be  a lambing-field  without  a shed  in  it,  or  at  least  without  some  place 
20 


230 


DISEASES  OF  SUEEF. 


surrounded  with  brushwood  faggots  on  the  north  and  east  sides  a' 
least,  if  not  all  round ; and  into  which  the  weakly  lambs  and  ewes 
may  be  driven,  and  in  stormy  weather  the  whole  flock  may  take  re- 
fuge with  manifest  advantage. 

Next  in  importance  to  shelter  stands  food.  The  animal  may  be 
stinted  in  his  growth,  and  prepared  for  scab  by  starvation ; or  he  may 
be  inevitably  destroyed  by  over-feeding,  or  by  sudden  change  of  food. 
The  unhealthy  seasons  for  sheep,  putting  the  rot  for  a moment  out 
of  the  question,  are  not  the  winter,  when  no  grass  grows,  nor  the 
summer,  when  it  is  all  burned  up,  but  the  spring  and  the  autumn, 
when  there  is  plenty,  and  too  much  to  eat.  They  contrive  to  live,  if 
not  to  fatten  in  the  two  former  seasons,  but  they  perish  from  excess 
or  change  of  food  during  the  latter  two. 

There  is  one  disease,  however,  which  is  caught,  or  the  foundation 
for  which  is  laid  in  the  summer,  and  that  is  the  rot;  but  from  what 
has  been  stated  with  regard  to  this  disease,  a proper  system  of  hus- 
bandry, and  attention  to  little  unsuspected,  but  most  dangerous,  nooks 
and  corners,  would  materially  limit  the  ravages  of  the  rot. 

The  grand  fault  in  the  management  of  sheep,  and  of  all  domestic 
animals,  is,  that  the  farmer  pays  so  little  personal  attention  to  them, 
and  pursues  one  undeviating  course,  the  same  that  he  learned  from 
his  father,  whatever  be  the  state  of  his  flock,  and  whatever  the  state 
of  the  season.  To  this  must  be  added  — the  most  absurd,  and  the 
most  injurious  of  all  — a spirit  of  fatalism ; a submission,  not  without 
repining,  but  without  an  effort  to  avert  them,  to  many  and  serious 
losses,  which  a little  care  and  personal  trouble  might  have  prevented 


ON  TH 


DISEASES  01  SWINE. 


It  is  only  very  lately  that  any  persons  have  condescended  to  tak# 
into  consideration  the  maladies  of  swine,  and  they  are  little  under 
stood.  The  diseases  that  have  been  recognised  are  not  numerous, 
but  they  are  exceedingly  fatal ; and  that  fatality  is  increased  by  the 
difficulty  of  managing  these  unruly  animats. 

The  most  frequent  disease,  and  as  fatal  as  any,  'v* — - 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LINGS. 

This  complaint  is  known  among  the  breeders  and  fatteners  of  swine 
by  the  term  of  rising  of  the  lights.  There  seems  to  be  a peculiar 
tendency  in  every  malady  of  this  animal  to  take  on  a highly  inflam- 
matory character.  It  is  the  consequence  of  the  forcing  system  that  is 
adopted  in  the  fattening  of  the  hog.  It  resembles  the  blood  or  inflam- 
matory fever  of  oxen  and  sheep, — a general  and  high  degree  of  fever, 
produced  on  a system  already  strongly  disposed  to  take  on  intense 
inflammatory  action  from  the  slightest  causes.  Every  little  cold  is 
apt  to  degenerate  into  inflammation  of  the  lungs  in  the  fatted  or  fat- 
tening hog;  and  so  many  cases  of  this  sometimes  occur  in  the  same 
establishment,  or  the  same  neighbourhood — in  fact  among  those  who 
are  exposed  to  the  same  exciting  cause,  that  the  disease  is  mistaken 
for  an  epidemic.  There  is  no  doubt  that  when  this  heaving  of  the 
lights  begins  to  appear  in  a herd  of  swine,  a great  many  of  them  are 
sooner  or  later  affected  by  it,  and  die.  It  is  the  cough  or  cold  that  is 
epidemic,  but  it  is  the  plethora  and  inflammatory  state  of  the  animals 
that  cause  it  to  be  so  general  as  well  as  fatal. 

The  early  symptom  is  cough.  A cough  in  a hog  is  always  a suspi- 
cious circumstance,  and  should  be  early  and  promptly  attended  to 
The  disease  is  rapid  in  its  progress.  The  animal  heaves  dreadfully 
at  the  flanks ; he  has  a most  distressing  cough,  which  sometimes 
almost  suffocates  him,  and  he  refuses  to  eat.  The  principal  guiding 
symptom  will  be  the  cough  getting  worse  and  worse,  and  becoming 
evidently  connected  with  a great  deal  of  fever. 

In  many  cases  congestion  takes  place  in  the  lungs,  and  the  animal 
dies  in  three  or  four  days:  in  others  he  appears  for  a while  to  be 
getting  better;  but  there  is  a sudden  relapse,  a frequent  dry  husky 
cough  comes  on,  there  is  little  appetite,  rapid  wasting,  and  the  hog 
dies  in  a few  weeks,  evidently  consumptive. 

16  (231) 


232 


DISEASES  OF  SWINE. 


The  first  thing  that  is  to  be  done  is  to  bleed,  and  tbe  most  conve 
nient  place  to  bleed  the  hog  is  from  the  palate.  If  an  imaginary  line 
is  drawn  from  between  the  first  and  second  front  middle  teeth,  and 
extending  backward  an  inch  along  the  palate,  and  the  palate  is  there 
cut  deeply,  with  a lancet  or  fleam,  plenty  of  blood  will  be  obtained. 
A larger  quantity  of  blood,  however,  can  be  abstracted  from  the  veir 
on  the  inside  of  the  fore-arm,  about  an  inch  above  the  knee.  The 
application  of  cold  water  with  a sponge  will  generally  stop  the  bleed 
ing  without  difficulty,  or  at  least  so  far  arrest  it,  that  no  harm  will  be 
done,  ir  it  should  continue  a little  while  longer.  An  assistant  may 
easily  open  the  .mouth  sufficiently  for  all  this  by  means  of  a halter  or 
stout  stick,  but  beyond  this  the  swine  is  an  awkward  patient  to  man- 
age. He  will  struggle  obstinately  against  every  attempt  to  drench 
nim,  and  the  inflammation  may  be  aggravated  by  the  contest.  It 
will,  therefore,  be  necessary  in  the  majority  of  cases  to  endeavour  to 
cheat  him  by  mixing  bis  medicine  with  his  food. 

Here  we  must  recollect  the  nature  of  his  stomach  : it  is  not  of  that 
insensible  character  and  difficult  to  be  acted  upon  or  nauseated  as  in 
the  cow  and  the  sheep,  but  it  approaches  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the 
structure  of  that  of  the  human  being;  and  we  must  adapt  our  medi- 
cine accordingly.  The  emetic  tartar  must  be  omitted  from  our  Fever 
Medicine,  or  it  would  sadly  vomit  the  patient.  The  following  may 
oe  given : — 

RECIPE  (No.  1). 

Fever  Medicine  for  Swine.— Take  digitalis,  three  grains;  antimonial  powder,  six 
grains;  nitre,  half  a drachm.  Mix,  and  give  in  a little  warm  swill,  or  milk,  or 
mash. 

In  the  greater  number  of  cases  the  animal  will  readily  take  this: 
but  if  he  is  so  ill  that  nutriment  of  every  kind  is  refused,  he  must  be 
drenched. 

This  should  be  repeated  morning,  noon,  and  night,  until  the  in- 
flammation is  abated.  A purgative  should  quickly  follow,  and  we 
have  those  for  the  hog  which  are  mild  as  well  as  effectual,  and  from 
which  no  danger  can  result.  The  Epsom  salts  may  be  given  in  doses 
of  from  one  to  three  ounces,  and  they  will  communicate  a not  un 
pleasant  or  unusual  flavour  to  his  broth  or  swill. 

If  this  inflammation  of  the  lungs  in  the  hog  rivals  in  the  speed 
with  which  it  runs  its  course,  and  in  its  intensity  and  fatality,  the 
blood , or  inflammatory  fever  of  oxen  and  sheep,  no  time  should  be 
lost  in  adopting  the  proper  measures,  and  the  bleeding  should  be 
copious,  and  the  medicine  given  in  doses  sufficiently  powerful.  When 
the  disease  lingers  on,  and  the  dry  husky  cough  remains,  and  the 
animal  is  evidently  wasting,  medicine  will  be  in  a manner  useless, 
and  warmth  and  cleanliness,  and  food  that  has  no  heating  quality, 
afford  the  only  chance  of  cure. 

APOPLEXY  AND  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BRAIN 

In  distilleries,  and  where  many  hogs  are  kept,  and  too  well  kept 


MEASLES. 


233 


imt»  is  a very  destructive,  and  not  unfrequent  malady.  If  the  swina 
nad  been  carefully  observed,  it  would  have  been  seen  that  they  were 
making  a more  than  usually  rapid  progress,  but  there  was  at  the  same 
lime  a laziness,  or  heaviness,  or  stupidity,  about  them.  A dose  or 
two  of  physic  would  have  removed  this,  and  not  have  interfered  with 
the  fattening  ; indeed  they  would  have  thriven  the  better  after  it.  If 
this,  however,  has  been  neglected,  the  apoplexy  will  probably  be 
established.  The  swine,  in  the  act  of  feeding,  or  when  moving  across 
the  sty,  will  fall  suddenly,  as  if  struck  with  lightning.  He  will  be 
motionless  for  a little  while,  and  then  convulsions  will  come  on, 
strong  and  dreadful : the  eyes  will  seem  protruded,  the  head  and  neck 
will  swell,  and  the  veins  of  the  neck  will  be  brought  into  sight,  not- 
withstanding the  mass  of  fat  with  which  they  may  be  covered.  In 
the  midst  of  his  struggles  the  animal  will  be  perfectly  unconscious. 
He  will  often  die  in  a few  minutes,  or  should  he  recover,  tie  will  be 
strangely  exhausted,  and  some  internal  injury  will  be  evidently  done, 
so  that  he  will  afterwaids  be  very  subject  to  returns  of  these  attacks 
either  of  apoplexy  or  of  fits. 

The  course  here  is  plain  enough.  He  should  be  bled,  and  bled 
copiously.  Indeed  the  blood  should  be  suffered  to  flow  as  long  as  it 
will.  Two  or  three  ounces  of  Epsom  salts  should  then  be  given ; the 
quantity  and  the  heating  character  of  the  food  should  be  diminished, 
and  a couple  of  drachms  of  sulphur  given  daily  in  the  first  meal. 

When  apoplexy  or  fits  have  once  appeared  in  a sty,  they  spread 
like  wild-fire.  There  is  nothing  contagious  in  them,  but  there  is  the 
power  of  sympathy  acting  upon  animals  become  too  disposed  to  in- 
flammation and  fever.  The  most  forward  of  them  should  be  disposed 
of  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  habit  of  fits  once  established  cannot  easily  be  broken,  and  the 
only  way  to  prevent  the  continuance  of  much  annoyance  is,  to  sepa- 
rate those  that  are  oftenest  affected  from  the  rest,  and  to  fatten  them 
as  soon  as  possible. 

MEASLES. 

This  is  an  inflammatory  disease,  not  always  indeed  discovered 
during  the  life  of  the  animal,  but  plain  enough  after  death,  and  very 
considerably  diminishing  the  value  of  the  carcass.  The  red  and 
pimpled  appearance  of  the  skin,  or  of  the  cellular  substance  between 
the  flesh  and  the  skin,  sufficiently  marks  the  disease.  It  shows  that 
there  has  been  general  inflammation,  either  resulting  from  the  fatten- 
ing process  being  carried  too  far,  or,  much  oftener,  from  the  animal 
having  too  suddenly  been  taken  from  poor  keep,  and  suffered  to  have 
as  much  as  it  will  eat  of  highly  nutritious  and  stimulating  food.  The 
measles  are  very  seldom  or  never  fatal,  but  the  disease  may  generally 
be  recognized  by  the  pink  blush  of  the  skin,  or  of  some  parts  of  it, 
Rnd  by  the  hog  rubbing  himself  more  than  usual,  while  the  skin  is 
free  from  pimples  and  scurf.  The  remedy  would  be  a less  quantity 
2Q* 


DISEASES  OF  SWINE. 


i)f  food,  Dr  of  not  so  stimulating  a character,  and  occasional  doses  d 
Epsom  salts  or  sulphur. 

MANGE. 

Few  domesticated  animals  are  so  subject  to  this  loathsome  disease 
as  the  hog  if  he  is  neglected  and  filthily  kept;  but  in  a well  cleaned 
and  well  managed  piggery  it  is  rarely  or  never  seen,  unless  some, 
whose  blood  from  generation  to  generation  has  been  tainted  with  it, 
should  be  incautiously  admitted.  A mangy  hog  cannot  possibly 
thrive  well.  His  foul  and  scurfy  hide  will  never  loosen  so  as  to  suffer 
the  accumulation  of  flesh  and  fat  under  it. 

Except  it  is  hereditary,  it  may,  although  with  some  trouble,  be 
perfectly  eradicated.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  clean  the  hog 
well ; without  this  all  external  applications  and  internal  medicines 
will  be  thrown  away.  The  animal  must  be  scrubbed  all  over  with  a 
good  strong  soap-lather,  and  when  he  is  well  dried  with  wisps  of 
straw  he  will  be  ready  for  the  ointment,  and  no  better  one  can  be  used 
than  the  Mild  Ointment  for  Scab  in  Sheep  (Recipe  No.  14,  p.  225). 
A little  of  this  should  be  well  rubbed  all  over  him  every  second  or 
third  day ; but  at  the  same  time  internal  medicine  should  not  be 
omitted.  There  is  no  animal  in  which  it  is  more  necessary  to  attack 
this  and  similar  diseases  constitutionally. 

RECIPE  (No.  2). 

Alterative  Powder  for  Swine. — Take  flowers  of  sulphur,  a quarter  of  an  ounce; 
^thiop’s  mineral,  three  grains;  nitre,  and  cream  of  tartar,  half  a drachm.  Mix, 
and  give  daily  in  a little  thickened  gruel  or  wash. 

This,  like  the  scab  in  sheep,  is  a very  infectious  disease,  and  care 
should  be  taken  to  scour  the  sty  well  with  soap,  and  afterwards  to 
wash  it  with  a solution  of  chloride  of  lime,  as  recommended  at  page 
225.  The  rubbing-post,  that  useful,  but  too  often  neglected  article 
of  furniture  in  every  sty,  should  particularly  be  attended  to. 

SORE  EARS. 

There  are  very  often  troublesome  cracks  and  sores  at  the  back  of 
the  large  lop-ears  of  some  breeds.  If  there  is  any  disposition  to  mange, 
it  is  most  evident  about  the  ears  of  these  animals,  and  the  mischief  is 
sadly  aggravated  when  brutes  in  human  shape  set  every  ferocious 
dog  at  the  stray  pig,  the  favourite  hold  of  which  is  the  ear.  The 
Healing  Cleansing  Ointment  for  Cattle  (Recipe  No.  10,  p.  53)  will 
most  readily  heal  the  sores. 

PIGGING. 

The  sow  usually  goes  with  pig  four  months,  but  there  is  mora 
irregularity  in  her  time  than  in  that  of  any  other  of  our  domesticated 
quadrupeds.  A week  or  ten  days  before  her  pigging  she  should  be 
separated  from  the  rest,  otherwise  the  young  ones  would  probably  ba 
devoured  as  soon  as  they  are  dropped  ; and  if  she  shows  any  dispo 
Bition  to  destroy  them,  or  if  she  has  ever  done  so,  she  should  be  care 


quinsy.  235 

Stilly  watched,  a muzzle  should  be  put  upon  her,  and  her  little  ones 
should  be  smeared  with  train  oil  and  aloes  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  teats  of  the  sow  will  sometimes  swell,  and  hard  knots  may  be 
felt  in  them  as  in  the  garget  of  cattle.  The  treatment  should  be  nearly 
the  same  except  that  bleeding  is  scarcely  requisite.  A dose  of  physic, 
however,  is  indispensable.  The  Garget  Ointment  for  Cattle  (Recipe 
No.  24,  p.  69)  may  be  rubbed  with  advantage  into  the  teats,  which 
should  be  carefully  wiped  or  washed  before  the  young  ones  are  per- 
mitted to  suck  again ; indeed  they  will  not  suck  while  any  unusual 
smell  remains  about  the  teats.  The  milk  should  also  be  gently  but 
well  pressed  out  of  the  diseased  teats. 

When  it  is  wished  to  spay  a breeding  sow,  in  order  that  she  may 
be  put  up  for  fattening,  it  may  be  done  while  she  is  suckling.  The 
young  pigs  may  be  cut  at  three  or  four  weeks  old : they  should  never 
be  suffered  to  suck  longer  than  two  months ; and  they  may  be  rung 
as  soon  as  convenient  after  weaning.  No  hog  should  escape  ringing, 
even  if  he  is  destined  to  live  in  the  sty.  It  is  the  only  way  to  keep 
him  quiet,  and  will  contribute  materially  to  his  thriving. 

QUINSY. 

This  disease  in  the  hog  is  compounded  of  sore  throat  and  enlarge- 
ment of  the  glands  of  the  throat,  and  is  something  like  strangles  in 
;he  horse  — inflammation  and  enlargement  of  the  cellular  substance 
between  the  skin  and  muscles  under  the  lower  jaw.  The  progress  of 
he  malady  is  rapid,  ana  cn e swelling  is  sometimes  so  great  as  to 
prevent  the  breathing,  and  consequently  to  suffocate  the  animal.  To 
a skin  so  thick  as  that  of  the  hog  it  is  useless  to  make  any  external 
application.  The  patient  should  be  bled ; two  ounces  of  salts  should 
be  given,  and  half-ounce  doses  repeated  every  six  hours,  until  the 
bowels  are  well  opened ; while  warm  weak  wash,  or  milk  and  water, 
should  be  occasionally  poured  into  the  trough.  It  is  not  often  a dan- 
gerous disease  if  remedies  are  early  adopted. 

[Governor  Vance,  of  Ohio,  now  in  Congress,  has  been  very  observant  of  the  dis- 
eases to  which  domestic  animals  are  subject  in  that  State  and  the  west.  These  sheets 
having  been  submitted  to  his  inspection,  he  answered 

Washington , January  22 d,  1844. 

I have  looked  over  the  sheets  enclosed  relative  to  the  diseases  of  hogs,  and  am 
convinced  that  what  is  termed  “ quinsy ” in  these  sheets  is  the  same  disease  we  were 
conversing  about  the  other  evening  at  Mr.  Seaton’s.  By  careful  attention  to  the 
early  stages  of  this  disease,  if  it  is  the  same  that  afflicts  our  swine  in  the  west,  it 
will  be  found  that  they  will  become  stiff  in  all  their  limbs,  and  will  move  with  ai 
much  difficulty  as  a foundered  horse,  and  with  almost  the  precise  symptoms. 

When  this  is  the  case,  we  know  of  no  cure  but  a thorough  cleansing  and  opening 
it  the  ducts  or  holes  in  the  inside  of  the  fore-legs,  which  will  give  free  respiration 
this,  with  ashes  and  sulphur  mixed  with  salt,  or  incorporated  with  the  food,  wit 
generally  effect  a cure. 


236 


DISEASES  IN  SWINE. 


Kidney-Worm.— There  is  a fatal  disease  amongst  our  swine  in  tfcw  west,  called  the 
Kidney-Worm,  which  causes  a weakness  in  the  back,  and  finally  a falling  of  th« 
hind  quarters,  which  they  will  drag  around  for  months,  until  they  become  the  mosl 
loathsome  objects  that  you  can  conceive  of.  Arsenic  in  small  portions,  mixed  with 
their  food,  will  generally  prove  effectual,  if  given  in  the  first  stages  of  ;he  disease; 
and  the  best  preventive  medicine  is  ashes  and  sulphur  mixed  with  their  salt;  fbr 
hogs  require  as  regular  salting  to  keep  them  healthy  and  in  good  condition  as  do 
cattle  or  horses.  — S.] 

COSTI YENESS. 

This  is  not  an  uncommon  complaint  of  the  confined  and  fattening 
hog,  and  is  easily  removed  by  the  Epsom  salts,  or  by  five  grains  of 
calomel  being  given  in  a little  of  the  animal’s  favourite  food.  It  will 
be  dangerous,  however,  to  push  the  calomel  beyond  the  second  or 
third  dose,  for  the  hog  is  very  easily  salivated.  The  bowels  having 
been  well  opened,  a dose  of  the  Alterative  Powder  (Recipe  No.  2,  p. 
244)  given  every  fourth  day  will  be  very  beneficial,  and  wi!l  hasten 
the  fattening  of  the  styed  hog  that  exhibits  any  disposition  to  cos- 
tiveness. 

Sometimes,  however,  this  costiveness  is  produced  by — 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BOWELS, 

which  is  attended  by  considerable  pain,  heat  and  tenderness  of  the 
abdomen,  with  a quick  pulse,  and  other  symptoms  of  fever,  and  some- 
times by  fits  and  insensibility.  The  ieaiment  should  consist  of 
copious  bleeding,  oily  laxatives,  clysters,  warm  fomentations  o the 
abdomen,  and,  if  the  animal  is  not  too  large,  warm  baths. 


THE 


HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE 


CHAPTER  , 

VARIED  FORM  OF  THE  HORSE. 

He  who  wants  a horse,  and  wishes  to  avoid  disappoint- 
ment, would  do  well,  before  he  goes  to  market,  to  have 
made  up  his  mind  as  to  the  work  he  requires  him  to  per- 
form ; and  seriously  ask  himself  this  question — “ What 
sort  of  a horse  do  I want  h do  I require  speed,  strength,  or 
show  V9  Let  him  rest  satisfied  if  he  obtain  the  one  leading 
requisite,  and  bear  in  mind  the  important  fact,  that  the 
very  qualities  which  render  him  pre-eminently  calculated 
for  a particular  service,  unfit  him  for  others. 

Every  horse  is  suitable  for  some  purpose,  and  the  proof 
of  judicious  discrimination  in  a purchaser,  is  so  to  choose 
his  horse,  that  he  shall  be  the  most  suitable  for  the  duty  he 
will  have  to  perform. 

Nature  and  art,  by  striking  and  great  variations  in  the 
structure  and  proportions  of  the  horse,  appear  to  have 
pointed  out  the  station  which  the  different  tribes  of  this 
most  valuable  servant  are  each  destined  to  fulfil  ; yet  man 
too  often  persists  in  slighting  these  great  principles ; and 
hence,  mortification,  expense,  and  discomfort  await  his 
perversity,  in  not  making  himself  acquainted,  as  far  as  lies 
in  his  power,  with  the  lesson  placed  before  him.  Not  one 
horse  in  a thousand  is  equally  well  adapted  for  saddle  and 
harness,  for  speed  and  strength  ; and  we  shall  here  endea- 
vour to  put  the  reader  in  possession  of  the  principles  up- 
(237) 


238 


THE  H0RSE-KEEPER7S  GUIDE 


on  which  a sound  judgment  of  his  fitness  or  unfitness  fot 
any  given  purpose  may  be  formed. 

To  judge  of  proportion,  we  must  have  a knowledge  of 
the  service  for  which  the  horse  is  required.  There  is  one 
conformation  for  slow  and  heavy  draught  ; a second  foi 
lighter  and  quicker  work ; a third  for  a hackney  ; a fourth, 
wit  h more  speed  and  equal  endurance,  for  a hunter ; while 
a fifth  is  wanted  for  the  racer.  E ach  one  possessing  ita 
)wn  peculiar  pre-eminence  where  properly  employed. 

Many  purchasers  are  as  incapable  of  appreciating  the 
general  qualities  of  a horse,  and  his  fitness  for  a certain  pur- 
pose, as  they  are  of  deciding  on  his  soundness  or  unsound- 
ness; and  in  their  purchase,  the  greater  part,  if  not  the 
whole  uncertainty,  as  to  the  ultimate  result  of  the  transac- 
tion, arises  from  the  buyer’s  want  of  judgment,  and  the  ex- 
pectation he  forms  of  perfection  in  every  quality  ; yet 
there  are  few  subjects  on  which  men  are  so  positive  and 
self-sufficient  as  this. 

If  we  have  to  carry  weight  and  much  to  do,  we  desire 
a short  back  ; that  he  be  well-ribbed  home ; (that  is,  the 
ribs  reaching  to  within  a short  distance  of  the  haunch  bone,) 
and  that  his  pasterns  be  short. 

If  speed  is  required,  there  must  be  room  for  the  full  ac- 
tion of  the  hinder  quarters,  which  are  the  propelling  pow- 
er ; we  then  require  a long  back  and  oblique  scapula  and 
pasterns  ; thus,  if  strength  is  required,  we  purchase  it  at 
the  expense  of  elasticity  ; and  elasticity  is  obtained  at  the 
expense  of  strength.  But  whatever  the  services  required, 
whether  Action,  Safety,  or  Strength,  it  is  dependant  on  cer- 
tain fixed  rules. 

Action  depends  on  the  length  and  direction  of  the  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  bony  fabric  as  opposed  to  each  other. 

Safety  is  connected  with  the  degree  of  perfection  in  the 
form  and  direction  of  the  limbs,  united  with  a just  propoi  * 
tion  of  the  length. 

Strength . is  the  result  of  muscular  contractions  on  or- 
gans adapted  for  motion.  Let  us  now  conside  the  appli- 
cation. 

In  the  Race  Horse  we  seek  length  and  elasticity  of 
corm,  a long  and  oblique  blade  bone ; a short  shoulder 
bone ; a long  arm-bone  ; a short  cannon ; long  springy  pas- 
terns  ; and  ample  muscular  quarters. 


VARIED  FORM  OF  THE  HORSE. 


239 


With  this  formation,  velocity  is  attained,  at  the  sacrifice 
of  safety  as  regards  carrying  its  rider,  and  strength  as  re- 
gards bearing  buidens  and  drawing  loads. 

The  gallop  of  a race  horse  is  but  a succession  of  leaps  * 
and  all  animals  remarkable  for  their  velocity  in  this  mo- 
tion (as  the  greyhound  and  hare)  are  found  comparatively 
low  before,  and  high  and  powerful  behind. 

The  whole  endeavour  of  the  breeder  has  therefore  been, 
to  mould  his  form,  and  fashion  his  organs  for  that  purpose  ; 
and  to  condense  into  the  smallest  possible  space,  the  great- 
est possible  bulk  of  muscle  and  bone. 

But  the  perfection  of  a race  horse,  as  in  all  animals  of 
speed  and  endurance,  consists  in  his  wind,  without  which 
the  utmost  perfection  of  form  would  be  valueless  ; and  here 
it  is  that  external  form  is  an  indication  of  internal  struc- 
ture. 

The  contractibility  of  muscular  fibre  is  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  extent  of  respiration  in  all  animals.  In 
the  lower  order  of  animals,  where  there  is  little  motion, 
as  in  birds,  we  find  the  air  permeates  every  region  of  the 
body.  It  is  impossible,  therefore,  we  can  have  great  speed 
or  power  without  large  lungs  and  a powerful  heart, 
which  are  indicated  by  the  size  and  capacity  of  the  chest. 

It  is  a well-known  fact,  that  in  proportion  to  the  redness 
of  the  muscle,  among  the  higher  order  of  animals,  so  is 
their  strength,  and  their  redness  is  dependant  on  their  sup- 
ply of  arterialized  blood  ; the  muscles  are  of  a higher  co- 
lour in  stallions  than  in  geldings,  and  there  is  a great  increase 
of  strength  given  to  muscles  by  the  testicles ; and  mares 
are  generally  supposed  to  be  stronger  than  geldings. 

Upon  the  size  of  the  lungs  and  heart,  principally  depend 
the  strength  and  soundness  of  the  animal.  In  proportion 
to  their  size,  is  the  power  of  converting  food  into  nourish- 
ment, and  upon  the  facility  with  which  they  assimilate  ve- 
getable matter  to  blood,  is  their  power  of  reproducing  and 
supplying  the  waste  of  nervous  influence,  and  substanca 
expended  oy  great  exertion, — for  which 

“ The  watchful  appetite  -was  given 
Daily,  with  fresh  materials  to  repair 
The  unavoidable  expense  of  life, 

The  unnecessary  wa°.te  of  flesh  and  blood.** 


240 


THE  LORSE-KEEPER’s  GUIDE 


In  Eclipse,  the  most  famous  horse,  as  a Racer,  this  ai 
any  other  country  ever  saw,  and  whose  performances  were 
of  such  a pre-eminent  description  that  neither  the  ancient 
Hippodrome,  or  the  annals  of  the  modern  race-course  can 
furnish  a parallel ; that  of  not  only  beating,  but  distancing  * 
the  best  horses  of  his  day,  and  whose  exact  speed  was 
never  known,  as  no  horse  could  be  found  to  compete  with 
him, — we  find  three  points,  which  we  have  dwelt  upon  as 
an  excellence  in  the  race  horse,  developed  to  an  extraordi- 
nary degree. 

It  was  remarked  as  a peculiarity  by  those  who  saw  him 
run,  that  his  hind  legs  were  very  wide,  and  separated  in  his 
gallop  ; which  formation  was  of  old  noticed  by  Xenophon, 
as  one  of  the  indications  of  power  in  the  horse. 

The  principal  requisites  in  the  race  horse  are  that  he 
possess  good  blood,  good  speed,  good  temper,  a sound 
constitution,  and  strong  and  fleet  limbs.  He  should  not  be 
taller  than  fifteen  hands  f high,  so  that  he  possesses  length 
with  good  substance. 

In  the  selection  of  the  Hunter,  we  desire  to  combine 
the  qualities  of  speed,  with  as  much  additional  bone  and 
muscle  as  will  enable  him  to  carry  weight,  and  support  it, 
during  a long  course  of  fatigue  and  privation.  To  achieve 
the  first,  we  desire  good  blood,  (which  insures  bottom)  and 
that  peculiar  small  head  of  the  blood  horse,  which  makes 
him  light  in  hand.  Like  the  racer,  he  must  have  long  mus- 
cular quarters,  be  well  let  down  in  the  thigh,  with  his 
hocks  well  bent  under  his  top  to  propel  him  in  the  gallop 
But  for  the  second  we  require  another  form  from  the  racei 
an  elevated  and  muscular  forehead. 

The  height  of  the  withers  is  dependant  upon  the  length 
of  the  spines  of  the  dorsal  vertebrae,  and  their  length  is  of 
great  importance  in  giving  a long  lever  to  the  dorsal  mus- 
cles, which  are  the  grand  agents  in  elevating  with  rapidity 
and  power  the  fore  limbs,  in  leaping,  and  carrying  weight 
over  a heavy  country.  Ilis  arms  must  be  muscular ; and 
as,  in  the  racer,  strength  is  sacrificed  to  flexibility,  so,  in 
the  hunter,  we  seek  strength  at  the  expense  of  flexibility 
Therefore  his  *egs  should  be  shorter,  and  his  pasterns  less 
long  and  oblique  than  in  the  race  horse  ; his  body  shortei 

*A  distance  is  the  length  of  two  hundred  and  forty  yards  froir  the  win- 
ning post. 

A hand  is  a measure  of  four  inches 


VARIED  FORM  OF  THE  HORSE. 


241 


and  closer  ribbed  home,  giving  him  a quicker  gallop  ; for 
dorses,  to  live  across  a country,  should  go  with  quick  collec- 
ted steps  ; the  lengthened  stride  of  the  racer,  allowed  by  a 
long  back  and  contracted  belly,  would  soon  exhaust  and 
sink  the  hunter  injuriously  in  deep  soils.  He  should  not 
be  under  fifteen,  or  more  than  sixteen  hands  high  ; below 
this  standard,  he  cannot  always  measure  the  object  befoie 
him,  and  above  it,  he  is  apt  to  be  awkward, 

His  barrel  should  be  rounder,  to  give  greater  room  foi 
the  heart  and  lungs  to  play  ; and  the  chest  deep  and  broad, 
for  reasons  before  mentioned,  is  an  excellence  in  a hunter  : 
a deep  chest  admits  of  expansion,  when  the  horse  requires 
more  room  to  breathe  than  usual  Muscular  exertion  fa- 
cilitates the  return  of  the  reincu?  : ,jod  to  the  right  side  of 
the  heart,  and  in  long-continued  and  violent  exertion  of  the 
chase,  the  respiration  being  quickened,  the  lungs,  if  small, 
are  unable  to  arterialize,  and  get  rid  of  the  blood  so  fast  as 
it  is  pumped  into  them  : consequently,  if  there  is  not  room 
for  the  blood,  congestion  takes  place,  and  the  horse  be- 
comes what  is  termed  “ blown  ;”  the  lungs  being  gorged 
with  olood,  and  possibly  the  animal  destroyed  ; and  it  is  a 
well-known  fact,  that  the  majority  of  the  horses  that  perish 
in  the  hold  are  narrow-chested  horses.  For  a horse  to  en- 
dure long-continued  and  violent  exertion,  it  is  necessary 
that  he  should  have  arrived  at  that  age  when  all  his  powers 
are  developed  ; therefore  a horse  should  not  be  used  as  a 
hunter  under  eight  years  old ; for  though  he  attains  his  full 
height,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  about  his  fifth  or  sixth 
year,  he  increases  in  bulk  laterally  till  eight;  at  which  pe- 
riod he  arrives  at  his  greatest  strength  and  maturity;  though 
our  ruinous  system  of  work  and  shoeing  brings  on,  in  the 
majority  of  cases,  permature  old  age,  and  they  end  their 
miserable  lives  before  attaining  twelve.  The  hunter  ought 
not  to  be  less  than  three  parts  bred,  and  under  the  present 
system  of  racing  after  a fox,  if  seven  eighths,  so  much  the 
better,  and  it  is  a sine  qua  non  that  a hunter  should  go  clear 
of  all  his  legs,  not  brush  a hair,  and  be  a a true  snaffle-bri 
die  horse. 

The  Hackney,  or  Roadster,  exceeds  all  the  other  va- 
rieties in  usefulness,  and  is  so  much  in  demand,  that  a good 
and  clever  hack  is  worth  a good  price  ; moreover,  the  early 
and  excessive  labour  to  which  is  a g horses  are  exposed, 
subjects  them  to  such  premature  decay,  that  it  is  exceedingly 
21 


242 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


difficulty  to  meet  with  a worked  hack  m a perfectly  sound 
state,  however  young  he  may  be. 

The  qualities  of  a good  hack  are  so  numerous  as  to  re 
quire  great  judgment  to  look  for  them.  He  should  not 
be  under  five  years  old.  He  must  have  a good  mouth,  and 
good  eyes,  not  given  to  start,  gentle  in  his  temper,  and  qui 
et  to  ride  on  all  occasions.  He  should  be  square  set,  with- 
out being  clumsy ; and  with  this  form,  the  more  breeding 
ne  shews,  short  of  full  blood,  the  better.  Height  is  not  so 
essential  as  in  the  hunter ; but  if  required  for  quick  work, 
he  should  be  well-bred,  and  a well-bred  horse  is  rarely  able 
to  carry  weight  if  he  stand  under  fifteen  hands  and  one  inch, 
though  a half-bred  will  often  carry  great  weight  under  that 
height. 

He  must  have  lengthy  slanting  shoulders,  good  fore  legs, 
as  well  as  good  hind  ones,  and  perfect  feet  to  be  safe  on 
his  legs.  Indeed  we  look  with  as  much  anxiety  to  the  fore 
parts  of  a hackney,  as,  in  a hunter  or  racer,  we  do  to  their 
hind.  The  fore  legs  must  be  perfect  throughout,  they 
should  be  quite  straight,  and  stand  well  from  under  him, 
his  elbow  square  with  his  body,  the  bones  beneath  the  knee 
short,  deep,  and  fiat,  and  the  tendon  not  tied  in,  but  as 
large  under  the  knee  as  above  the  fetlock;  his  pasterns 
short,  but  oblique  or  slanting ; his  action  should  be  easy 
and  safe. 

Safety  in  action  depends  upon  the  manner  in  which  the 
foot  is  placed  on  the  ground.  It  should  come  down  flat, 
heel  and  toe  at  once  ; if  the  toe  digs  into  the  ground  before 
the  bearing  is  complete,  he  is  a stumbler,  and  he  will  be 
found  to  wear  away  the  shoe  at  the  toe. 

For  strength,  his  back  should  be  straight,  and  short ; hol- 
low backed  bones,  though  easy  to  ride,  will  not  carry 
weight;  and  his  hinder  legs  should  be  well  bent  under  him, 
if  they  are  not  in  their  proper  place,  it  is  impossible  tc 
have  proper  action. 

A good  hackney  is  a hunter  in  miniature,  and  should, 
like  him,  possess  different  degrees  of  blood,  according  to 
the  work  required  of  him  ; he  who  possesses  one,  should 
not  be  tempted  to  part  with  him  for  a trifle. 

In  horses  used  for  the  purposes  of  light  and  quick 
draught,  the  principal  points  are,  that  he  have  power  and 
breeding  equal  to  the  nature  of  the  work  required  ; sub- 
stance well  placed  ; a deep,  well  proportioned  body,  rising 


SKELETON  OF  THE  HORSE, 


A 1,  the  under  jaw.  2,  the  upper  jaw.  3,  the  orbit  of  th 
eye.  4,  bones  of  the  nose. 

B,  The  vertebrae,  or  neck  bones. 

C,  The  dorsal  vertebrae,  or  back  bones. 

D,  Bones  of  the  loin.  E,  the  haunch  bones.  F,  tail  bones 
G,  Shoulder-blade.  H,  fore  part  of  the  chest. 

I,  Ribs.  K,  K,  Upper  bones  of  the  arm. 

L,  Elbow.  M,  M,  Knees. 

N N,  Shank  bone,  in  front ; and  splint  bone,  behind. 

7 7,  fore  pastern,  or  feet.  8,  8,  hind  pastern. 

O The  pelvis.  P,  P,  the  thigh-bones. 

Q,  Stifle-joint.  R,  R,  Leg  bones.  S,  S Hock-bones. 
T,  Lower  bone3  of  the  hind  leg. 


VARIED  FORM  OF  THE  HORSK. 


243 


in  the  withers,  and  slanting  shoulders ; short  back,  well 
ribbed  up,  and  broad  loins  ; sound,  flat,  short  legs,  with 
plenty  of  bone  under  the  knee  : and  sound,  open,  tough 
feet. — Knee  up,  or  grand  action,  though  deemed  an  excel- 
lence in  cabriolet  and  carriage  horses,  is  necessarily  ac 
companied  with  much  wear  and  tear  of  feet  and  legs,  and 
this  is  very  soon  apparent.  That  he  have  good  wind, 
without  which  the  other  qualifications  will  not  avail,  for  a 
clear-winded  coach  horse  will  always  keep  his  condition, 
and  consequently  his  health.  In  fact,  coach  horses  should 
be  nothing  more  than  very  large  hackneys,  varying  in 
height  from  15  hands  1 inch  to  16  hands  1 inch;  if  foi 
machinery,  a short  neck  is  preferable  ; but,  as  fashion  is 
every  thing,  in  carriage  horses,  where  a long  arched  neck 
»s  desired,  particular  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  set  on 
of  the  head,  or  otherwise,  tight  reining  up,  by  constricting 
and  twisting  the  air  passages,  will  produce  roaring. 

In  the  horse  for  slow  and  heavy  draught,  where  weight 
and  bulk  are  required,  we  perceive  the  greatest  difference 
in  formation.  While  in  the  hackney  and  hunter,  in  the 
one,  that  we  may  ride  safely  and  pleasantly,  and  in  the 
other,  where  extensive,  powerful,  and  rapid  action  is  re- 
quired, an  oblique  shoulder  is  indispensable.  But  here, 
where  the  pace  is  slow,  we  desire  a heavy  forehand,  not 
too  elevated,  that  he  may  throw  his  weight  into  the  collar 
for  all  drawing  is  but  throwing  the  weight  of  the  body 
beyond  its  centre. 

An  upright  shoulder  and  thick  neck,  for  this  purpose,  is 
an  advantage,  because  its  additional  thickness  gives  them 
weight  before,  which  the  power  of  their  hinder  quarters 
is  always  able  to  propel,  and  because  the  upright  position 
of  the  collar  enables  him  to  throw  his  weight  into,  and  act 
on,  every  part  of  it. 

He  should  be  short  in  the  pasterns,  deep  bellied,  and 
full  in  the  flank  ; for  all  deep  bellied  horses  carry  their 
food  longer,  and  are  consequently  enabled  to  stand  a longer 
and  harder  day’s  work. 

But  though  most  persons  having  any  experience  of  the 
subject  are  aware  that  horses  with  deep  shoulders  and  bo 
dies,  and  capacious  chests,  are  more  capable  of  enduring 
hard  and  long-continued  labour  than  those  in  which  the 
shoulders  and  chest  are  shallow,  and  the  legs  long ; yet 
comparativelv  few  know  how  rapidly  the  powers  of  draught 
17 


^44  THE  horse-keeper’s  guide. 

of  any  animal  decrease  with  the  increased  length  of  the 
legs,  compared  with  the  depth  of  the  body.  In  temper, 
he  should  rather  require  the  whip  than  show  too  much  fire. 

But  the  most  perfect  mechanical  forms  are  not  always 
the  most  speedy  or  powerful ; good  conformation  merely 
gives  the  powe?  to  perform  extraordinary  exertion  ; the 
faculty  of  motion  depends  not  on  form,  but  on  the  will  to 
exert  that  power.  This  energy,  or  willingness  to  work, 
exists  in  proportion  to  the  excitability  of  that  part  of  the 
brain  and  nervous  system  which  influences  the  muscles  of 
motion. 

Most  persons  prefer  a plain  horse  who  is  willing  to  la- 
bour, to  a beautifully  formed  one  who  is  not.  How  are 
we  to  learn  whether  this  grand  qualification  is  in  possession 
of  the  animal  we  wish  to  purchase  1 though  it  can  only  be 
scarcely  known  by  trial,  a great  deal  may  be  inferred  by 
close  observation  of  the  habits,  countenance,  and  behaviour 
of  the  animal. 

The  energetic  horse  has  generally  a large  eye,  is  atten- 
tive to  what  is  going  on  about  him,  fine  muzzle,  large  nos- 
trils, small  ears,  thin  skin,  and  clean  limbs  ; he  rarely  car- 
ries much  flesh  ; and  lastly,  it  has  been  frequently  observed 
that  many  energetic  horses  have  thin  manes  and  rat-tails. 

The  sluggard  has  usually  a small  sunken  eye,  in  a large 
heavy  head;  the  ears  are  large  or  sloping,  and  seldom 
move  ; the  nostrils  are  almost  always  small,  muzzle  fleshy, 
ribs  flat,  belly  pendant,  and  the  tail  drooping. 

A small  horse  is  capable  of  greater  exertion  than  a 
large  one ; the  vital  principle  seems  to  act  with  increased 
activity  in  small  animals  ; in  one,  it  is  diffused,  and  in  the 
other,  concentrated  : again,  like  us,  some  have  better  con 
etitutions  than  others  ; in  one,  the  texture  of  the  organs 
may  be  compact,  and  in  another  weak  and  relaxed.  Hor- 
ses with  thick  skins  are  more  predisposed  to  attacks  of 
grease  and  canker.  In  proportion  as  the  legs  are  haiiy. 
the  skin  is  thick  and  spongy,  feeble  in  vital  energy,  ant' 
incapable  of  bearing  changes  of  temperature. 

The  coat  of  a black  horse  is  coarser  and  thicker  thai 
that  of  a horse  of  the  same  breed  of  any  other  color — it  b 
rather  uncommon  to  see  a black  thorough  bred  ; whereas 
that  colour  is  predominant  among  our  large  and  heavy  cart 
borses. 

We  will  now  proceed  in  detail  to  examire  those  points, 


THE  STABLE 


Stables  which  do  not  contain  more  than  from  three  tc 
six  stalls,  are  most  conductive  to  the  health  and  comfort 
of  horses.  This  drawing  and  the  ground  plan  exhibit  the 
best  arrangement  for  a building  of  t his  kind. 


\=:  j [=■-  | 

k~  1 

■ 1 c 0 R N 1 B INI 

S 1 

-U- 

I 

Q U T T E R ! 

! 

J L 

9,  rjrpr  

I ■. 

1 B..F.EEX 

J 1 

i 

__  L, 

F*  8 FEET 

1 STALL 
j 
! 

! 1 

STALL 

! 

i 

| 

STALL 

FFEr. 

MANGER  | RACK 

|mancer|  rack 

mincer  | RACK 

J 


The  first  section  shews  the  stable  in  its  complete  form 
t is  intended  for  three  horses.  This  section  may  be  con 
&idered  as  the  ground  plan,  in  which  the  size  and  formatioi 
if  the  several  parts  are  distinctly  defined. 


SKELETON  OF  THE  HEAD  OF  THE  HORSE 


I 


I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 


1 1,  Forehead  bones 

*2,  2,  Apertures  through  which  the  nerves  and  blood-vessels  of 

the  forehead  pass. 

3,  3,  The  bones  of  tne  skull. 

4 , 4,  The  bones  of  the  temple. 

5,  5,  The  yoke-shaped  arch  of  the  forehead. 

6,  6,  Cavity,  or  hollow  above  the  eye. 

7,  7,  Bone  of  the  back  part  of  the  head. 

8,  8,  Orbits  of  the  eye. 

9,  9,  Parts  from  which  tears  pass  from  the  eyes. 

10,  10,  Bones  which  form  the  nose. 

11,  11,  Cheekbones. 

12,  12,  Upper  jaw-bones  in  which  are  the  grinders. 

13,  13,  Parts  whence  pass  the  blood-vessels  and  nerves  of  the 

face. 

14,  14,  Termination  of  the  upper  jaw-bones,  containing  the  cut 

ting  teeth. 

15,  Upper,  or  cutting  teeth. 

16,  16,  Nasal  opening,  and  bones  of  the  palate. 


EXTERNAL  CONFORMATION. 


245 


which  should  be  attended  to  in  the  exterior  conformation 
of  the  horse,  and  shall  chose  a Hackney,  or  horse  of  all 
work,  as  the  standard. 


CHAPTER  II. 

EXTERIOR  CONFORMATION  OF  THE  HORSE. 

Who  has  not  experienced  pleasure  while  contemplating 
th?  beautiful  proportions  and  graceful  symmetry  of  a finely 
formed  horse  h Among  his  admirers  there  are  few  who 
have  not  formed  in  their  fancy,  an  ideal  model  of  beauty, 
and  constructed  theories  by  which  a knowledge  of  his 
speed,  and  power,  might  be  obtained  from  the  relative 
developement  and  proportions  of  his  various  parts. 

Nature,  however,  will  not  submit  to  prescribed  laws  ; 
and  when  even  the  ablest  men  assume  premises,  and  cal- 
culate results,  the  first  cause  of  which  are  ever-varying, 
they  plunge  beyond  their  depths  ; sound  judging  practical 
men,  on  the  contrary,  take  for  their  guides  observation  and 
experience,  not  the  “ rules  of  the  schools.’ ’ Man  has  for 
his  services  obtained,  by  blending  the  various  breeds,  an 
infinite  variety  of  each  class,  suitable  to  the  numberless 
modifications  of  work ; any  theory,  therefore,  however 
ingenuously  supported,  is  calculated  to  mislead,  rather  than 
direct  the  judgment  aright. 

But  though  no  one  rule  can  bo  offered  to  meet  all  emer- 
gencies, it  has  been  found  by  experience,  that  there  is  a 
peculiar  form,  position,  and  developement  of  each,  that  is 
best  adapted  to  each  one  of  the  purposes  we  put  him  to. 
By  a correct  knowledge  of  the  different  structures ; by 
comparing  the  several  parts  of  one  horse  with  the  several 
parts  of  another,  we  are  enabled  to  distinguish  the  good 
from  the  bad. 

From  his  external  conformation,  the  practiced  eye  will 
form  a judgment  of  his  power  and  capabilities ; from  his 
carriage,  manner,  eye,  ear,  skin,  and  action,  we  infer  his 
temper  and  energy,  and  judge  of  his  safety  in  progression , 

The  head  is  a very  important  part  as  indicative  of  cha- 
racter ; and  in  few  animals  is  an  improvement  in  breed  so 
evident  as  in  this.  On  viewing  the  head  of  tho  cart  and 


246 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


blood  horse,  we  cannot  help  being  struck  with  the  differ 
ence  of  appearance. 

In  the  unimproved  breeds  there  is  a dull  uniformity  of 
feature,  a large  head  and  narrow  brow,  with  small  eyes 
and  thick  clumsy  lid,  indicative  of  a small  brain,  and  its 
usual  though  not  invariable  accompaniment,  a want  of 
energy. 

In  the  well-bred  horse  it  is  small  and  angular,  (in  the 
saddle  horse  it  can  hardly  be  too  small,)  with  an  animated 
intelligence  of  countenance.  The  space  between  the  eyes 
flat  and  broad  (and  it  is  the  breadth  of  the  frontal  bones 
which  gives  to  the  blood  horse  that  beautiful  expression 
of  intelligence  and  fire),  the  face  gradually  tapering  from 
forehead  to  muzzle.  The  muzzle  thin,  delicately  formed, 
and  tapering  to  the  lips,  which  should  be  firm  and  well 
supported ; when  they  hang  loose  and  pendulous,  it  be- 
speaks age,  sluggishness,  or  debility. 

The  nostril  should  be  thin,  wide,  and  cartilaginous,  a 
wide  open  nostril  (shewing,  within,  the  rosy  membrane,)  is 
not  only  requisite  to  form  beauty  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
head,  but  it  is  also  conducive  to  free  respiration  and  good 
wind.  The  nostril  is  always  large  in  swift  and  active 
horses,  and  forms  not  a bad  criterion  of  the  size  of  the 
lungs  ; a slow  horse  may  possibly  have  a large  nostril,  but 
a swift  one  never  had  a small  one. 

The  eves.  The  globe  should  be  large,  full,  and  pro- 
minent, and  expressive  of  vigour,  with  a thin  surface  of 
eyelid.  If  the  eye  be  apparently  small  (and  the  difference 
in  the  size  of  the  eye  is  governed  by  the  size  of  the  open- 
ing,) or  sunk  in  its  orbit,  or  surrounded  with  much  adhe- 
sive substance,  it  is  found  to  be  prone  to  inflammation. 

In  some  horses,  the  transparent  cornea  is  small,  and  the 
eye  shows  much  of  the  white.  This  has  nothing  to  do 
with  temper,  but  the  large  appearance  of  white  occasioned 
by  the  retroverted  direction  of  the  eye,  when  accompanied 
by  depression  of  the  ears,  may  be  received  as  an  indication 
of  vicious  disposition. 

The  ears  should  be  placed  wide  apart,  spirited,  small, 
and  pointed  towards  each  other  at  the  end.  They  are 
sure  criteria  of  the  spirit  and  temper  of  the  animal  : he  is 
seldom  either  vicious  or  playful,  but  the  ears  are  laid  flat 
back  ; but  when  he  continues  them  in  that  position,  he  :s 
meditating  mischief.  The  quick  change  of  position,  and 


EXTERNAL  CONFORMATION. 


24T 

the  expression  of  the  eye  at  the  time,  will  enable  the  ob- 
server to  distinguish  between  play  and  vice. 

If  when  at  exercise,  or  on  a journey,  he  carries  lis  ears 
lively,  throwing  one  backward  and  the  other  forward,  and 
is  attentive  to  every  thing  going  on  around  him,  it  is  a sure 
sign  of  spirit  and  strength. 

The  neck,  in  the  saddle  horse,  should  be  long  and  thin, 
arising  by  a beautiful  gradation  from  out  of  the  breast  and 
shoulders,  fine  at  the  top  and  muscular  at  bottom,  (the  mus- 
cles distinctly  chiselled  as  it  were,  but  nowhere  overloaded 
with  flesh,)  growing  smaller  and  thinner  as  it  approaches 
the  head,  with  windpipe  visibly  projecting.  It  should  form 
an  elegant  but  moderate  curve,  from  the  poll  to  the  with- 
ers ; its  under  surface,  but  slightly  curved,  should  entei 
the  chest  rather  above  the  point  of  the  shoulder. 

The  neck  of  the  horse  is  not  merely  formed  as  a cover 
and  protection  for  the  windpipe  ; it  has  other  and  impor- 
tant purposes  to  perform. 

Upon  the  length  of  the  neck  depend  the  length  and 
power  of  the  levator  humerus,  or  raiser  of  the  arm,  a mus- 
cle of  immense  power  and  use  in  lifting  and  bringingfor- 
ward  the  legs,  and  preventing  stumbling.  This  muscle  is 
in  powerful  action  when  a horse  is  running  full  speed  with 
his  head  projected  ; yet  with  its  use  and  function,  the  in- 
ventor of  the  bearing-rein  must  have  been  totally  unac- 
quainted, as  when  a horse  is  tight  reined  up,  it  is  rendered 
nearly  useless  in  preventing  the  animal  recovering  himself 
when  falling.  The  unyielding  restriction  of  the  bearing 
rein  also  has  a tendency  to  produce  roaring. 

A long  neck  for  a fashionable  carriage  horse,  is  indispen- 
sable. A short  one  will  not  bear  reining  up,  so  as  to  give 
that  arched  appearance  so  much  sought  for ; and  he  cer- 
tainly looks  better  when  his  head  projects  considerably 
above  the  collar.  In  horses  for  light  or  heavy  draught,  the 
neck  should  be  thicker  than  in  the  saddle  horse. 

The  withers  commence  at  the  termination  of  the  mane, 
and  form  that  elevated  ridge  before  the  pummel  of  the 
saddle  ; they  are  formed  by  the  long  spinous  proceses  of 
the  last  cervical  and  first  dorsal  vertebrae,  and  are  the  le- 
vers by  which  the  fore  parts  of  the  horse  are  elevated,  in 
the  trot;  and  in  proportion  to  the  length  of  the  arm  of  the 
lever,  is  the  ease  with  which  the  weight  is  raised.  High 
withers,  however  necessary  to  safety  and  ease,  are  no{ 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


*48 

essential  to  the  race  or  draught  horse  : low  wili  er?  usually 
appear  thick,  and  it  is  difficult  to  keep  the  saddle  in  its 
proper  place.  Dealers,  therefore  usually  shew  a horse 
with  his  head  up  hill,  to  make  him  appear  to  stand  well 
up  before. 

The  shoulders  should  be  deep,  and  extend  obliquely 
downward  and  forward,  from  a little  below  the  withers  to 
the  points.  On  the  good  or  bad  construction  of  the  shoul 
der,  action  materially  depends,  and  good  action  is  almos 
equivalent  to  strength. 

A long  and  oblique  shoulder  is  an  indication  of  elasti 
tv  and  speed,  for  the  freedom  and  rapidity  of  action  of  the 
fore  limbs  depend  on  the  relative  angle  of  the  bones  in  re- 
gard to  each  other.  The  abruptness  or  prominence  of  the 
shoulder  is  a consequence  of  the  upright  position  of  tl 
scapula  ; and  when  the  shoulders  are  low  and  upright,  tl 
weight  of  the  animal  is  thrown  directly  on  his  fore  leg* 
and  the  shock  is  conveyed,  as  it  were,  through  a solid  cc 
lumn,  to  the  annoyance  of  his  rider,  and  the  injury  of  his 
legs  and  feet  by  the  concussion.  If  the  humerus  is  long, 
his  legs  stand  under  him,  and  he  has  not  only  difficulty  in 
putting  them  forward,  with  weight  on  his  back,  but  is  liable 
to  stumble  ; and  when  he  does  trip,  the  load  he  carries,  be- 
ing more  forward  than  the  points  of  support,  prevents  him 
from  recovering  himself.  Such  horses  usually  prove  un- 
easy goers. 

But  though  an  upright  shoulder  is  a sure  mark  of  an  un- 
pleasant and  unsafe  saddle  horse,  and  commonly  a slow 
one,  it  is  far  from  a disadvantageous  formation  in  the  hea- 
vy draught  horse.  Indeed,  in  the  latter  case,  it  is  an  ad- 
vantage ; for  while  it  permits  him  to  throw  his  whole 
weight  into  the  collar,  and  affords  an  easy  bed  for  that 
part  of  his  harness,  it  allows  sufficient  action  for  the  work 
he  has  to  do;  in  horses  for  heavy  draught,  extensive  ac- 
tion necessarily  causes  the  collar  to  sit  uneasily. 

The  breast,  or  counter,  in  the  saddle  horse,  should 
uot  be  too  wide  at  the  points  ; if  too  broad,  the  horse  is 
usually  awkward  in  his  trot ; a fault  in  the  saddle  horse, 
hut  an  excellence  in  a draught  horse,  whose  breast  cannot 
oe  too  wide,  or  too  heavy. 

Position  of  the  fore  legs,  when  viewed  in  front : they 
should  be  straight,  widest  apart  at  the  breast,  and  gradual 
ly  yet  slightly  approaching  each  other,  as  they  descend  to 


EXTER  NAL  CONFORMATION. 


2i  fj 

wards  the  fetlock  When  the  approximation  is  too  great, 
the  animal  is  liable  to  cut  by  striking  the  fetlock  with  the 
opposite  foot,  though  this  more  frequently  occurs  from 
weakness  of  the  pasterns,  or  mal-position  of  the  elbow 
joint.  The  degree  of  width  must  depend  on  the  purpo- 
ses for  which  the  horse  is  required  The  legs  of  a heavy 
draught  horse  can  scarerly  bo  too  far  apart ; but  if  too  wide 
in  the  saddle  horse,  it  is  usually  accompanied  by  a lumber- 
ing action. 

Viewed  from  the  horse’s  side,  the  leg  should  descend  in 
a straight  line  from  the  elbow  to  the  fetlock,  with  the  the 
of  the  foot  placed  immediately  under  the  point  of  the 
shoulder.  If  the  foot  stands  beyond  that  line,  the  action 
will  be  confined  ; though  such  horses  are  generally  safe  ; 
if  much  behind,  the  centre  of  gravity  is  removed  beyond 
the  pillars  of  support,  and  the  animal  is  much  more  liable 
to  fall. 

The  fore  arm  should  be  large,  broad,  muscular,  long 
and  tapering  towards  the  knee.  The  strength  of  the  fore 
arm  may  be  estimated  by  its  breadth,  and  the  extent  of  its 
action  by  its  length.  In  proportion  as  the  fore  arm  is  long, 
will  the  shank  be  short ; a formation  favourable  to  the 
strength,  speed,  and  extensive  action,  though  where  a pran- 
cing action  is  desired,  and  utility  is  sacrificed  to  appear 
ance,  the  arm  must  be  shorter,  and  the  shank  longer. 

The  knees  should  be  large  and  flat,  broad  from  front 
to  back  ; when  proceeding  from  the  straight  line  of  ihe 
leg,  the  horse  is  called  “ calf-kneed.” 

The  pasterns  are  situated  between  the  fetlock  joint 
and  the  top  of  the  hoof.  Experience  alone  among  horses 
will  point  out  the  most  advantageous  position  of  the  pas- 
terns : long  pasterns  confer  elasticity,  and  are  commonly 
pleasant,  easy  and  speedy  in  the  gallop  ; but  they  are  weak, 
liable  to  strain,  and  injury  of  the  back  sinews ; uprighl 
pasterns  are  not  only  unsafe  but  unpleasant  to  the  rider, 
and  injurious  to  the  horse.  There  should  be  length  and 
obliquity  enough  to  give  pleasant  action,  and  no  more ; 
but  unless  he  is  very  much  ill-used,  a pastern  a little  too 
long  for  a saddle  horse  is  a less  evil  than  one  a little  too 
short.  All  that  need  be  said  on  the  subject  is,  that  weight 
requires  a short,  and  speed  a long  pastern. 

The  feet  should  be  placed  firm  and  flat  on  the  ground, 


250 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


parallel  with  each  other,  and  pointing  straigl  t to  the  front 
The  foot  should  be  nearly  round,  smooth,  and  of  a dark 
colour,  without  any  signs  of  brittleness  ; wide  at  the  heels; 
the  sole  concave,  with  a large  and  sound  frog,  and  the  bars 
or  inflections  of  the  wall  distinct.  The  wall  of  a perfect 
foot  is  cylindrical,  the  posterior  part  having  the  same  slope 
as  the  front. 

The  inclination  in  a sound  foot  is  about  forty-five  degrees, 
highest  at  the  toe,  but  regularly  declining  in  height  towards 
the  quarters  : when  it  is  much  more  oblique,  it  indicates 
weakness;  the  horn  of  the  wall  will  then  be  found  so  thin 
as  hardly  to  bear  the  nails,  the  heels  low,  the  sole  flat,  and 
the  bars  small  in  size ; such  feet  cannot  stand  work,  are 
subject  co  corns,  strains  of  the  fetlock,  and  are  liable  to  be 
pricked  in  shoeing,  and  if  attacked  with  founder  are  irre- 
parably injured.  Whoever  buys  a horse  with  such  feet, 
will  sooner  or  later  have  cause  to  lament  his  bargain.  If 
it  is  more  upright,  the  sole  will  be  thick  and  concave  : and 
if  the  wall  is  high  and  deep  at  the  heels,  (if  not  the  result 
of  bad  shoeing,  which  is  easily  ascertained  by  the  action,) 
such  feet  are  liable  to  contraction,  grogginess,  sand 
crack,  &c. 

The  chest.  Upon  the  form  of  the  chest  depends  the 
value  of  the  animal ; without  plenty  of  room  for  those  im- 
portant organs,  the  lungs,  there  can  be  little  speed,  and  lesr 
endurance.  And  the  external  indication  of  the  size  of  the 
lungs,  is  the  form  and  size  of  the  chest. 

The  capacity  of  the  chest  depends  more  on  the  form 
than  the  circumference,  for  where  the  girth  is  equal  in  two 
animals,  one  may  have  much  larger  lungs  than  the  other. 

Narrow-chested  horses  can  stand  no  fatigue,  have  sel- 
dom good  digestion,  are  difficulty  to  keep  in  condition,  and 
are  purged  by  the  slightest  thing,  a draught  of  water  or  a 
brushing  gallop.  They  are  usually  light  in  the  carcase,  and 
I0112:  in  the  leof,  and  in  the  language  of  the  stable  “ have 

o o 7 o o 

too  much  day  light  under  them.” 

Round-chested  horses  are  generally  slow,  strong,  an<r 
easily  kept  in  condition  ; but  they  are  apt  to  accumulate 
flesh  and  are  easily  blown,  and,  from  the  circular  forrr  01 
theii  chests,  are  unable  to  enlarge  its  capacity  when  in- 
creased circulation  requires  it.  But  for  speed  and  endu- 
rance, the  most  desirable  form  of  the  chest  is  that  it  be  deep 
and  barrel  out  bemnd  tba  elbow  • it  cannot  be  too  deep  in 


EXTERNAL  CONFORMATION. 


251 


the  girth  in  any  horse,  Such  a form  is  of  the  utmost,  ad- 
vantage in  a horse  of  speed,  not  only  by  giving  capacity 
to  the  chest,  but  by  giving  more  room  for  the  attachment 
of  those  muscles,  on  and  between  the  ribs,  which  are  call- 
ed into  exertion,  by  effecting  increased  expansion  of  the 
chest,  and  relieving  the  distress  of  the  animal. 

The  barrel,  or  sides,  should  be  deep  and  round,  and 
not  flat.  When  a horse  is  flat-sided,  the  belly  is  pendant, 
and  such  horses  usually  have  bad  action,  and  are  only  fit 
foi  slow  work. 

The  back  should  be  straight  and  sufficiently  long  to 
leave  room  for  the  saddle.  The  advantage  or  disadvantage 
of  a long  or  short  back  depends  entirely  upon  the  purposes 
for  which  the  horse  is  required.  For  general  purposes,  a 
horse  with  a short  carcass  is  perferred.  They  are  pro- 
verbially hardy,  can  cany  great  weight,  and  endure  much 
fatigue.  But  on  the  other  hand,  their  action  is  confined, 
they  are  seldom  fast,  and  sometimes  uneasy  in  their  paces, 
and  apt  to  over-reach.  A long  back  is  favorable  to  ease  and 
rapidity  of  progression,  but  is  unfavorable  to  strength  or 
bearing  heavy  weight.  Saddle  backed  horses,  that  is,  when 
the  back  is  sunk,  are  also  weak,  but  very  easy  in  their  paces. 

The  loins  cannot  be  too  broad  or  too  muscular  in  any 
description  of  horse,  for  breadth  here  gives  strength  with- 
out interfering  with  speed.  The  loins  should  also  be 
straight.  At  the  junction  of  the  back  and  lions,  in  some 
horses,  there  is  an  indentation,  which  shews  imperfection 
in  the  construction  of  the  spine  ; it  is  a serious  defect,  and 
is  termed  “ badly  loined.”  When  the  curve  is  upwards, 
though  it  confers  strength,  it  is  an  unsightly  defect,  the  elas- 
ticity of  the  spine  is  diminished,  and  the  horse’s  paces  are 
unpleasant ; it  is  termed  roach-backed,  and  from  their 
hind  legs  being  brought  too  much  under  them,  they  are 
very  apt  to  over-reach. 

The  quarters  are  considered  by  judges  to  be  most  im 
portant  joints  in  the  frame  : on  their  developement  depend 
his  power  and  speed.  Their  muscularity  denotes  power, 
and  their  depth,  breadth,  and  width  indicate  the  advanta- 
geous direction  of  that  power.  When  there  is  want  of 
breadth  from  the  haunch  bones  backward,  shown  Dy  ihs 
low  setting  on  of  the  tail,  as  exemplified  in  the  cart  horse, 
there  is  usually  confined  and  slow  action,  unless  compen- 
sated for  by  depth  and  width. 


252 


THE  IIORSE-KREPER  S GUIDE. 


Width  of  haunch  and  well  spread  thighs  are  character 
istic  of  the  well-bred  horse,  and  give  security  against  cut 
ting  as  it  progresses. 

The  hocks  are  most  important  and  complex  joints 
upon  whose  proper  formation  are  essentially  connected  the 
excellence  and  value  of  the  animal.  They  should  be  large 
lean  bony  joints,  broad  and  flat  as  you  stand  by  the  side,  for 
their  breadth  is  dependant  upon  the  length  of  an  important 
lever  (the  os  calcis),  which  corresponds  with  the  heel  in 
man,  into  whose  points  are  inserted  the  most  powerful  of 
the  muscles  used  in  bending  the  leg.  In  draught  horses,  it 
is  comparatively  short  and  upright,  and  consequently  their 
etude  is  limited  ; but  in  speedy  horses  it  is  long,  which  has 
the  effect  of  bending  the  leg  to  the  proper  position  under 
the  body. 

Position  of  the  hind  legs.  Viewed  from  behind, 
the  thigh  should  be  well  spread,  descending  to  the  ground 
perpendicularly  without  any  inclination  inward  or  outward, 
either  of  the  hock  or  pasterns ; the  weight  and  strain  will 
be  then  equally  borne  by  the  various  parts. 

The  proper  position  of  the  hind  foot  of  a hackney  is, 
when  the  horse  is  standing  with  them  both  equal  or  opposite 
each  other,  about  three  or  four  inches  behind  a line  falling 
from  the  stifle  joint.  If  the  legs  are  behind  this  point,  he  is 
said  to  “ have  his  le^s  behind  him.”  On  the  fixture  and 
position  of  the  hind  leg  depends  his  speed  ; the  nearer  he 
can  place  his  hind  legs  under  his  body  to  the  centre  of  gravi- 
ty in  the  gallop,  the  greater  will  be  his  power  and  celerity, 
and  that  power  depends  on  the  formation  of  his  hock,  for 
in  proportion  to  the  length  and  power  of  his  hock  will  be 
his  spring. 

Colours  and  markings.  By  many  persons,  the  good 
or  bad  qualities  of  horses  are  supposed  to  be  connected 
with  particular  colours,  that  their  temperaments  and  apti 
tude  for  exertion  are  traceable  to  the  colour  of  the  skin. 
That  some  colours  are  not  so  prevalent  among  well-bred 
horses,  and  that  other  colours  are  more  common  among 
horses  of  no  breeding  at  all,  is  apparent  to  every  observer; 
but  I am  disposed  to  consider  they  have  been  so  bred,  be- 
cause their  price  is  very  often  influenced  by  what  happens 
to  be  a fashionable  colour,  and  that  predisposition  to  disease 
or  aptitude  for  work  depends  more  on  breeding  and  form 
than  on  colour. 


EXTERNAL  CONFORMATION. 


253 


Again,  it  is  often  asserted,  and  with  positiveness,  that 
white  legs  are  predisposed  to  cracks  and  grease  Even 
though  we  very  often  see  white  heels  cracked,  I do  not 
see  the  necessary  connexion  between  the  disease  and  the 
colour ; and  it  is  thus  easily  explained  : not  that  the  le# 
is  weaker,  but  that  its  colour  exposes  it  to  be  weakened 
White  legs  being  easily  stained,  from  the  desire  to  keep 
them  clean,  are  more  frequently  washed;  and  by  careless 
grooms  the  legs  are  often  left  to  dry  of  themselves  : the 
evaporation  from  a wet  surface  produces  cold,  and  the 
repetition  of  the  practice  ultimately  repels  the  secretion 
of  the  greasy  matter  necessary  to  keep  a part  of  so  much 
motion,  soft  and  pliable,  and  inflammation  and  cracks  an. 
the  result ; the  same  may  be  observed  of  white  hoofs,  the 
frequent  wettings  rendering  the  horn  hard  and  brittle. 

The  Greys,  of  which  there  are  several  varieties,  the  sil- 
ver, iron,  dappled,  and  flea-bitten,  by  many  are  valued 
on  account  of  their  beauty  ; but  during  the  moulting  season 
they  are  objectionable,  as  saddle  horses,  from  soiling  their 
riders’  clothes. 

The  dappled  grey  is  a great  favourite,  the  darker  the  bet- 
ter, as  he  retains  his  colour  the  longest  of  the  greys  ; and 
from  being  favourites,  they  have  been  improved  more  than 
any  other  varieties,  by  the  addition  of  better  blood. 

The  piebald  is  rarely  liked  as  hackneys,  though  in  a phae- 
ton or  light  carnage,  if  well  matched,  they  have  a very 
pretty  effect.  Of  the  chesnut  there  are  three  varieties, 
the  sorrel,  light,  and  dark ; the  light  have  frequently  large 
intermixtures  of  white  ; and  in  the  coarse  breeds  the  whole 
face  is  white,  and  in  all,  the  legs  are  apt  to  be  white  ; the 
lighter  shades  are  supposed  to  be  characteristic  of  debility 
of  constitution.  The  dark  chesnuts  are  commonly  consi- 
dered as  of  sound  constitution  and  great  endurance,  but 
of  hot  and  fiery  tempers,  and  their  feet  more  prone  to 
contraction  than  any  other  colour. 

Of  the  bays  there  are  various  shades,  light  and  dark, 
termed  bright-bays,  yellow-bays,  and  brown-bays.  The 
dappled-bay  is  an  esteemed  colour,  and  so  is  the  bright 
bay,  if  accompanied  by  a black  mane  and  tail,  or  a dorsal 
listing.  The  dark  bays  are  more  esteemed,  if,  in  addition 
to  black  manes  and  tails,  their  joints  and  legs  are  black. 
The  bays  and  browns  have  of  late  years  been  bred  with 
much  care,  and  display  a considerable  deal  of  blood. 


254 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER  S GUIDE 


The  browns  not  being  so  fashionable  a colour,  have  not 
had  so  much  attention  paid  to  them,  and  are  comparatively 
coarse ; but  those  that  are  well  bred,  are  usually  good. 
There  is  not  usually  so  much  show  as  in  the  bays  ; but 
they  are  stronger  and  more  useful  horses.  In  the  dark 
brown,  when  the  muzzle  is  of  a tan  colour,  it  is  usually 
considered  a mark  of  goodness. 

The  black  horse  presents  every  variety  of  charactei, 
from  the  most  furious  to  the  most  sluggish,  and  are  said  to 
be  more  subject  to  vice,  disease,  and  blindness  than  any 
other  colour.  A star  in  a black  horse  is  considered  a 
beauty,  and  black  horses  with  brown  muzzles  and  flanks, 
are  usually  considered  good. 


CHAPTER  III. 

EXAMINATION  OF  HORSES  FOR  PURCHASE. 

Having  found  a horse  whose  exterior  conformation,  size, 
and  appparent  strength,  seem  suitable  to  your  purpose,  we 
will  now  proceed  to  give  such  information  as  will  enable 
the  buyer,  by  careful  examination,  to  recognize  those  de- 
fects, blemishes,  symptoms,  and  appearances,  which  latent 
disease  and  injuries  assume,  and  thus  prepare  him  to  de- 
tect the  multitudinous  impositions  whiqh  have  been  resorted 
to  by  the  lower  class  of  dealers,  to  disguise  indications  of 
unsoundness. 

Unless  proper  precaution  is  used  in  the  examination  of 
horses  for  purchase,  the  law  will  not  protect  a man  ter  the 
consequences  of  his  own  neglect ; and  it  has  been  held 
that  a warrantry  against  apparent  defects  is  bad  in  law, 
the  purchaser  being  expected  not  only  to  possess  ordinary 
skill,  but  to  exhibit  ordinary  caution. 

A defective  horse  is  dear  at  any  price,  whilst  the  value 
of  a good  one,  is,  as  compared  with  a bad  one,  as  infinity 
to  nothing.  In  choosing  a horse,  let  the  buyer  be  ever  so 
good  a judge,  and  his  inspection  ever  so  minute,  he  must 
take  some  things  on  trust.  A perfect  knowledge  can  only 
be  obtained  on  trial,  which  should  always  be  taken,  if  pos- 
sible, but  which  is  not  always  to  be  had.  For  in? stance, 
some  horses,  when  turned  of  six  or  seven  years  old,  are 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


255 


subject  to  a dry  chronic  cough,  which  comes  on  at  uncer- 
tain times,  perhaps  twice  or  thrice  a day,  sometimes  after 
feeding  or  drinking ; or  changes  of  temperature  may 
induce  it,  as  when  he  comes  into,  or  goes  out  of  stable. 
Occasionally  a dose  of  physic,  and  in  some  cases  a little 
attention  to  his  diet,  will  prevent  re-occurrence  of  his  cough 
for  two  or  three  days,  or  even  weeks,  when  it  will  re- 
appear. 

With  a respectable  dealer,  after  using  youi  eyes  and 
discretion,  you  had  better  depend  on  the  warrantry,  and 
his  character,  than  by  any  unnecessary  display  of  suspicion, 
offensively  question  his  honesty.  Nevertheless,  as  the  trade 
is  taken  up  by  needy  gentlemen  of  good  standing  in  society, 
and  broken  down  black-legs,  of  respectable  connexions, 
who  are  ever  ready  to  give  a warrantry  not  worth  a dump, 
or  satisfaction,  if  you  are  dissatisfied  thereat ; if  you  have 
reasons  to  suspect  the  horse,  or  his  master,  the  directions 
here  laid  down  will  be  found  useful.  Always  bear  in 
jnind  that  the  observation  of  one  symptom  should  induce 
the  examiner  to  follow  up  the  inquiry  into  th  >se  other 
symptoms  which  are  characteristic  of  the  suspected  disease, 
defect,  or  unsoundness. 

The  best  time  to  view  a horse  is  early  in  the  morning, 
in  the  stables,  as  then  if  there  is  any  stiffness  in  the  joints, 
or  tendency  to  swelled  legs,  it  will  be  most  apparent. 

The  horse  should  always  be  examined  from  a state  of 
rest.  If  there  are  any  symptoms  of  his  having  been  pre- 
viously exercised,  such  as  sweat  about  his  withers,  or  his 
legs  have  been  recently  washed,  it  is  advisable  he  should 
be  left  in  his  stall  till  cool  : for  there  is  more  than  one 
species  of  lameness,  which  becomes  less  apparent  after 
exercise,  and  where  there  is  a tendency  to  swelled  legs,  a 
smart  trot  and  grooming  will  fine  his  legs,  and  render  them 
clean. 

This  precautionary  measure  is  more  especially  to  be  ta 
ken  when  you  suspect  your  man  ; for  in  horse-buying  w& 
have  to  deal  with  gentry  who  are  acquainted  with  the  sci- 
ence of  imposition  in  all  its  ramifications.  A stable  exa- 
mination is  the  best  for  observing  indications  of  wind  suck 
ing,  crib-biting,  chronic  cough,  the  state  of  the  respiration 
and  for  discovering  vice. 

For  this  purpose,  always  have  a horse  shewn  quietly ; 
when  there  is  much  noise  and  bustle,  there  is  generally 


250 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’a  GUIDE. 


something  wrong ; and  when  the  animal  in  agitated,  slight 
lameness  will  escape  the  eye. 

The  first  thing  to  be  observed  is,  that  when  standing 
evenly,  the  weight  is  thrown  equally  on  both  feet.  If  there 
be  any  complaint  in  the  fore  feet,  one  will  probably  be 
'*  pointed,”  that  is,  extended  before  the  other,  or  he  will 
frequently  alter  the  position  of  them,  taking  one  up,  and 
setting  the  other  down  ; or  the  hind  legs  will  be  brought 
under  the  body  to  relieve  the  fore  feet  of  some  portion  of 
the  weight.  Any  of  these  symptoms  will  direct  your  at- 
tention to  the  feet  when  you  see  him  out. 

To  judge  of  his  respiration,  it  is  necessary  to  be  ac- 
quainted with  the  indications  of  health.  Observe  if  the 
flank  alternately  rises  and  falls  with  regularity.  In  health, 
the  respiration  of  the  horse  is  from  four  to  eight  per  min- 
ute, average  six  in  the  day  time  ; during  sleep  it  is  seldom 
more  than  four.  If  quicker  than  ordinary,  it  betokens  pre- 
sent fever,  other  symptoms  will  be  developed,  such  as  in- 
creased pulse,  heat  of  mouth,  and  dulness,  while  the  deli- 
cate pink  appearance  which  the  membrane  covering  the 
partition  of  the  nostrils  assumes  in  health,  will  be  increas- 
ed in  colour, 

But  if  none  of  these  symptoms  of  ill-health  are  present, 
and  yet  the  horse  heaves  at  the  flank  more  than  ordinary, 
if  the  weather  be  moderate,  and  the  stable  not  oppressive- 
ly hot,  it  is  probable  such  a horse  is  thick-winded. 

When  inspiration  appears  to  be  performed  readily  and 
quickly  as  in  health  by  a single  action,  but  exspiration  with 
difficulty  by  an  irregular  and  prolonged  movement,  or  dou- 
ble action,  the  respiratory  muscles  appearing  as  if  inter- 
rupted in  the  act  of  expelling  the  air,  and  then  the  flank 
drops  suddenly,  it  is  a symptom  of  broken  wind.  His 
cough  should  then  be  tried.  The  cough  of  a broken- wind 
ed  horse  is  a peculiar  low  hollow  grunt,  difficult  to  des 
cribe,  but  when  once  heard  easily  recognized. 

The  cough  can  generally  be  elicited  by  pinching  the 
larynx  or  treachea , though,  occasionally,  this  fails,  for  some 
s:und  as  well  as  broken-winded  horses  cannot  be  made 
to  cough  at  all.  In  these  cases,  when  there  is  any  irregular- 
ity in  the  movement  of  the  flank,  which  would  lead  to  the 
suspicion  of  broken  wind,  and  there  is  unusual  hardness  of 
the  windpipe,  which  does  not  give  way  on  pinching,  it  may 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


257 


be  taken  as  a symptom  of  disorganization,  in  addition  to 
the  broken  wind. 

If  the  hair  is  rubbed,  off  in  some,  especially  about  the 
head,  flanks,  and  tail,  or  he  is  obseived  rubbing  himself 
against  the  sides  of  the  stall,  there  is  danger  of  his  being 
mangy  ; and  in  this  case  his  coat  will  be  found  rough  and 
staring. 

The  absence  of  the  vice  of  kicking  and  biting  may  be 
inferred  from  the  manner  of  the  groom  when  entering  the 
stall,  and  by  the  quiet  method  with  which  he  unclothes  and 
dusts  him  over,  and  combs  out  his  mane  and  tail.  If  he 
be  a biter,  his  head  will  probably  be  tied  short  to  the 
neck,  or  the  groom  will  seize  hold  of  him  short  by  the  hal- 
ter or  bridle,  sometimes  giving  him  a shake,  or  looking 
sternly  at  him.  Desire  to  see  his  hind  and  fore  feet,  and 
by  the  manner  in  which  he  permits  the  groom  to  lift  them, 
a guess  may  be  made  as  to  his  quietness  to  groom  his  heels, 
or  shoe. 

While  the  horse  is  in  the  act  of  being  led  out  of  the 
stable  to  the  light,  closely  observe  his  manner  and  action; 
if  the  ears  move  in  quick  changes  of  direction,  as  if  alarm 
ed  at  every  noise,  and  he  hangs  back  on  the  halter,  raising 
his  feet  higher  than  ordinary,  and  putting  them  down  as  if 
fearful  and  uncertain  of  his  step,  it  leads  us  to  suspect  his 
eyes,  though  sometimes  these  symptoms  will  be  observed 
when  the  eyes  are  perfect,  if  the  stable  has  been  a dark  one. 

When  the  horse  is  shewn  out,  notice  if  he  stand  firm  on  his 
feet,  with  his  weight  thrown  boldly  on  his  back  sinews  and 
pasterns.  If  there  is  any  appearance  of  shaking  or  totter- 
ing of  the  fore  limbs  indicative  of  grogginess,  it  will  be  en- 
deavoured to  be  disguised  by  the  groom  continually  pulling 
at  the  bit,  to  make  him  shift  his  legs  and  stand  advanta- 
geously. A lame  horse  is  never  permitted  to  stand  still  a 
moment,  and  the  groom,  though  pretending  to  soothe,  is 
in  reality  agitating  him,  while  the  shrewd  and  crafty  seller 
will  most  probably  endeavour  to  withdraw  your  scrutiny 
from  the  defective  point,  by  calling  your  attention  to  his 
spirit  or  playfulness.  If  any  of  these  manoeuvres  are  ap- 
parent, be  upon  your  guard.  The  groggy  horse  inclines 
a lit'  le  forward  at  the  knee,  or  it  is  readily  bent  by  the 
least  touch  behind,  he  rests  his  weight  on  his  toes,  and 
when  standing  undisturbed,  brings  his  hind  legs  under  him. 

22*  18 


253 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


Some  young  hoises,  before  they  have  been  backed,  have 
this  deformity,  from  malformation  of  the  knee ; but  if,  in 
addition  to  this  bending  forward,  there  is  any  tremulous 
motion  of  the  limbs,  it  is  a decided  proof  of  the  existence 
of  that  most  destructive  affection — Novicular  disease - 
Whatever  his  age,  he  should  be  rejected — Never  buy  a 

TOTTERING  HORSE. 

Another  deception  is  effected  by  standing  a horse  up 
hill ; the  shoulder  is  made  to  appear  more  sloping ; and 
dealers,  to  give  that  appearance,  desire  the  near  leg  to 
stand  before  the  other. 

Though  the  dealer  is  perfectly  justified  in  these  little 
manoeuvres  to  shew  off  his  goods  to  the  best  advantage, 
more  especially  in  so  fancy  an  article  as  a horse,  which  is 
no  more  than  is  done  and  allowed  by  every  tradesman ; 
the  prudent  purchaser  will  not  please  his  eye  at  the  ex- 
pense of  his  judgment,  but  see  the  horse  on  level  ground 
and  with  his  feet  placed  even. 

If  one  foot  is  more  upright  than  the  other,  that  foot  is 
diseased  ; the  same  weight  is  not  thrown  on  it ; and  the 
horse  never  shams : if  it  is  of  different  temperature,  active 
disease  is  going  on  ; if  an  old  standing  complaint,  the  feet 
will  be  found  of  different  size,  and  possibly  the  muscles  of 
the  arm  and  shoulders  diminished  in  size. 

Taking  our  position  in  front  of  the  horse,  we  examine 
his  fore  legs ; that  they  are  in  proper  position  ; that  there 
is  no  weakness  in  the  pasterns,  or  enlargement  of  the  fet- 
locks ; and  that  the  feet  are  of  the  same  size,  and  stand 
square  to  the  front. 

We  judge  of  the  general  state  of  the  animal's  health  by 
his  breathing  condition,  the  brightness  of  his  eye,  the  coloui 
of  the  membrane  lining  the  lid,  and  that  of  the  membrane 
lining  the  nostril,  which  in  health  is  of  a pale  pink.  If  it 
is  a florid  red,  there  is  excitement  of  the  system;  and  if  it 
is  pale,  approaching  to  white,  it  is  a sign  of  debility. 

Each  nostril  should  be  alternately  closed  by  the  hand,  to 
ascertain  that  the  air  passages  are  not  obstructed  by  polypus, 
or  enlargement  of  the  turbinated  bones. 

If  there  is  any  increased  discharge  from  the  nostrils,  you 
will  probably  be  told  it  proceeds  from  slight  cold  ; in  that 
case,  an  accelerated  pulse  and  affection  of  the  eyes  are 
usually  concomitants;  nevertheless,  as  a precautionary 
measure,  the  branches  of  the  under  jaw  should  be  felt  for 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


2o9 


3nlargement  of  the  glands  ; if,  although  enlarged,  they  are 
moveable  and  tender,  it  is  probably  nothing  more  than  a 
catarrhal  affection.  And  here  it  may  be  necessary  to  ob- 
serve, that  in  deciding  upon  the  disease  with  which  the 
horse  is  afflicted,  it  is  requisite  to  bear  in  mind  the  age  of 
the  animal.  In  examining  the  head  of  a young  horse, 
should  the  space  between  the  branches  be  hot,  tumid,  and 
tender,  the  membrane  of  the  nose  intensely  red,  with  pro- 
fuse discharge  from  both  nostrils,  and  cough  and  fever  pre- 
sent itself,  we  may  more  than  suspect  strangles.  Where, 
however,  there  is  neither  cough  or  fever,  but  one  nostril 
and  that  the  left,  affected,  the  discharge  lighter  in  colour, 
and  almost  transparent,  yet  clammy  and  sticky,  and  the 
gland  on  that  side  adherent  to  the  jaw  bone,  glanders  is  in- 
dicated. In  this  case,  should  the  lining  membrane  of  the 
nostril  be  found  pale,  or  of  a leaden  colour,  with  small  cir- 
cular ulcers,  having  abrupt  and  prominent  edges,  there  can 
be  no  second  opinion  on  the  subject. 

But  we  caution  the  inexperienced  examiner  not  to  mis- 
take the  orifice  of  the  nasal  duct,  which  is  situated  in  the 
inner  side,  just  within  the  nostril  on  the  continuation  of  the 
common  skin  of  the  muzzle,  and  which  conveys  the  tears 
from  the  eye  into  the  nose,  for  an  ulcer  ; and  warn  him,  in 
all  suspicious  cases,  to  be  careful  lie  has  no  chaps  or  sore 
places  on  his  head  or  face ; as  this  dreadful  disease  is  un- 
questionably communicable  to  the  human  being.  As  few 
persons  will  buy  a horse  with  any  symptoms  of  actual  dis- 
ease, however  slight,  if  they  can  help  it,  the  inquiry  is  bet- 
ter left  to  a professional  man,  in  case  any  of  these  symptoms 
make  their  appearance  after  purchase. 

His  crest  should  feel  hard  and  full,  and  firmly  and  closely 
attached  to  his  neck ; if  it  be  lax,  he  is  out  of  condition. 
His  skin  should  feel  kind,  and  look  glossy,  and  the  muscles 
of  the  body  feel  hard  and  spungy  to  the  touch.  In  the  old 
horse,  the  head  grows  lean  and  fine,  and  the  features  more 
striking  and  blood  like,  the  neck  fine,  withers  short,  and 
the  back  sinks  ; the  lips  exhibit  a lean  and  shrivelled  ap- 
pearance, and  the  lower  lip  hangs  considerably  below  the 
upper.  In  youth  they  are  round  and  plump,  and  meet  to- 
gether, and  the  ridges  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth  will  be 
found  prominent.  In  age,  the  middle  of  the  nose  will  some- 
times be  found  indented  by  the  long-continued  pressure  of 


260 


THE  IIORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


the  nose-band  of  the  head  stall.  In  lifting  his  lip,  if  the 
incision  teeth  shut  close,  even,  and  are  perpendiculai,  he  is 
young.  As  he  grows  older,  they  project  forward  in  ahci- 
izontal  direction,  and  the  upper  and  under  edges  do  not 
meet  with  evenness,  the  upper  projecting  over  the  undei 
teeth.  The  longer  his  teeth  are,  the  gums  being  dry  and 
shrunk  from  them,  the  more  advanced  he  is  in  age. 

This  appearance  of  his  teeth  cannot  be  altered  by  the 
arts  of  the  dealer.  In  youth,  the  teeth  are  flattened  at 
front  and  rear,  and  long  from  side  to  side  ; at  eight  years 
old  they  are  oval ; as  age  advances,  they  become  round, 
and  in  extreme  old  age  triangular,  yellow,  and  incrusted, 
and  the  tusks  become  blunt. 

If  there  are  any  marks  of  extraordinary  wear  in  the 
central  teeth,  there  is  reason  to  suspect  crib-biting,  and  in 
old  cribbers  the  outer  edge  of  the  front  teeth  are  worn 
away,  and  little  pieces  are  sometimes  broken  off  by  the  at- 
trition against  the  manger ; if  such  is  the  case,  look  to  the 
neck  for  marks  of  the  “ crib-biting  strap.’’ 

Dishonest  dealers  attempt  to  disguise  age  by  reproducing 
the  mark  in  the  corner  teeth  by  means  of  a hot  iron  or 
caustic — the  fraud  is  easily  detected  by  a horseman,  as  it 
is  usually  over  done,  and  the  marks  do  not  correspond  with 
the  length,  shape,  and  duration  of  the  teeth,  and  the  “ bi- 
shopped”  horse  is  usually  loth  to  have  his  mouth  meddled 
with. 

Having  attentively  looked  over  the  horse  as  he  stands, 
and  discovered  nothing  objectionable  to  the  eye,  it  is  pru- 
dent to  see  him  through  his  paces  before  proceeding  to  as- 
certain, by  careful  examination,  what  defects,  blemishes, 
&c.  which  may  have  a tendency  to  produce  unsoundness, 
he  is  afflicted  with  ; as  the  action  of  a horse,  when  closely 
observpd^  guides  us  to  his  defective  points. 

He  should  be  first  walked,  and  then  trotted,  without  any 
whip  near  him,  slowly  down  the  ride,  allowing  the  animal 
to  have  the  whole  of  the  halter  to  himself;  his  head  will 
then  be  entirely  unconstrained,  and  any  irregularities  in 
his  action  are  easily  detected. 

The  action  should  be  scrutinized  most  attentively  imme 
diately  he  steps  off,  as  defects  are  then  most  visible,  for,  not 
unfrequently,  lameness  disappears  after  a few  moments’ ex- 
ercise. 

Should  one  of  the  fore  feet  be  much  affected,  it  will  be 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


261 


evident,  by  the  up  and  down  motion  of  the  head,  and  th* 
different  degree  of  force  with  which  he  puts  his  feet  to  the 
ground.  Hor  es  that  are  lame  before,  drop  their  heads 
when  stepping  on  the  sound  leg,  and  raise  it  when  the 
weight  is  thrown  on  the  lame  leg ; but  when  they  are  lame 
behind,  the  action  (though  not  so  perceptible)  is  reversed; 
they  throw  up  their  head  a little  when  the  sound  leg  comes 
to  the  ground,  and  depress  it  when  the  lame  leg  propels 
the  body,  and  the  motion  of  the  lame  leg  is  slow,  while  the 
sound  one  is  jerked  quickly  forward  to  sustain  the  weight. 

When  both  fore  feet  are  equally  tender  (which  is  not  un- 
common in  groggy  horses,)  it  is  more  difficult  to  judge  of 
his  action — it  is  not  uneven,  and  the  limp  is  not  percepti- 
ble, but  he  steps  short  and  feelingly,  with  a general  ap 
pearance  of  contraction.  Dishonest  dealers,  at  fairs  and 
auctions,  resort  to  a scheme  by  which  groggy  lameness  in 
one  leg  is  disguised  by  making  the  motion  even.  It  is 
known  in  various  parts  by  the  slang  terms  of  diamonding, 
beaning,  balancing,  or  wedging. 

It  is  performed  by  removing  the  shoe  of  the  sound  foot, 
and  paring  out  the  sole,  until  it  yields  to  the  pressure  of 
the  thumb.  The  shoe  is  then  replaced,  and  a wedge  of 
wood,  a pebble,  or  bean,  is  driven  in  between  the  sole  and 
shoe,  until  sufficient  pain  is  produced  to  make  the  horse 
equally  lame  on  both  legs.  Although  the  lameness  is  less 
evident,  yet  a person  accustomed  to  the  action  of  horses, 
will  et  sily  detected  it ; and  if  the  animal  is  allowed  to  stand 
undisturbed,  it  will  be  evident  something  is  wrong  by  his 
repeatedly  shifting  his  legs. 

Another  trick  of  these  ruffians,  resorted  to  to  conceal 
lameness,  or  to  give  an  appearance  cf  energy  to  the  sluggard 
or  worn-out  horse,  is  the  torture  of  the  lash,  termed  firing. 
The  poor  animal,  previously  to  being  shewn,  is  so  barba- 
rously flagellated,  that  under  the  influence  of  terror  of  the 
further  application  of  the  whip,  his  attention  is  withdrawn 
from  the  disease,  he  feels  not  the  lesser  pain,  but  trots  off 
heedless  of  his  lameness,  or  at  least  showing  it  much  less. 
Whenever  there  is  much  punishment,  or  the  threat  cf  it, 
while  shewing  a horse,  be  sure  there  is  something  to 

CONCEAL. 

In  his  trot,  if  the  action  is  good,  the  foot  is  boldly  deliv- 
ered with  what  may  be  almost  termed  an  allegro  move- 
ment. Its  course  is  straight  forward,  and  downward,  not 


262 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


dishing  to  either  side  ; the  motion  should  be  from  the  elbow 
:is  well  as  the  knee  ; the  hind  legs  gathered  well  under  tne 
i)ody,  following  with  regularity  and  precision*  the  toes 
fairly  raised  from  the  ground,  and  spread  pretty  accurately 
in  the  impress  of  the  fore  feet ; if  they  pass  beyond,  the) 
are  likely  to  over-reach.  In  the  trot,  he  should  go  lightly 
with  the  fore  feet,  but  strike  the  ground  energetically  with 
the  hind,  taking  a long  darting  stride,  and  shooting,  as  it, 
were,  the  body  forward. 

In  trotting,  the  horse  that  throws  his  legs  confusedly 
about,  should  be  rejected,  for  though  most  young  and  un- 
educated horses  have  an  ungraceful  and  disorderly  action, 
the  sluggard  is  never  precise  and  uniform  in  his  trot. 

In  criticising  action,  attention  must  be  paid  to  breed,  but 
it  should  be  sufficiently  high  in  a hack,  to  clear  all  ordinary 
irregularities  on  the  ground  ; if  it  is  very  high,  look  out  for 
trace  of  having  worn  a knee  cap.  Be  careful  to  observe 
that  he  does  not  occasionally  drop ; a casual  giving  way  on 
either  leg,  in  the  trot,  is  a sufficient  hint  to  reject  the  ani- 
mal, he  will  certainly  fail  when  put  to  work. 

Though  the  best  horses  may  stumble,  if,  after  tripping, 
he  springs  out  as  if  he  feared  the  whip  or  spur,  you  may 
justly  suspect  him  to  be  an  old  offender,  which  will  induce 
you  to  look  to  his  knees  and  head.  Observe  that  he  goes 
clear  in  all  his  paces,  and  that  one  leg  does  not  interfere 
with  the  other ; horses  that  go  very  near  are  more  likely  to 
cut  when  tired. 

The  carriage  of  the  head  and  tail  are  points  to  which  the 
eye  of  a good  judge  will  be  directed.  If  the  tail  goes  to 
and  fro  when  in  action,  like  the  pendulum  of  a clock,  it  is 
a good  sign  of  blood  and  steadiness. 

He  should  now  be  mounted,  and  the  trial  be  repeated 
on  the  stones  or  hard  road,  or,  what  is  preferable,  on  a 
rough  and  stony  declivity  ; for  there  are  many  cases  of 
slight  lameness  which  do  not  show  on  soft  ground,  at  a 
walking  pace,  or  when  the  horse  is  unburdened.  If  he 
step  away  boldly,  the  toe  in  a direct  line  with  the  body, 
the  knee  fairly  bent,  and  his  foot  up  and  planted  firmly 
down  again  on  the  ground,  fearlessly  and  flat,  without  any 
dropping  ffi  his  head,  you  may  conclude  him  sound  in  ac- 
tion His  hind  legs,  well  lifted  up  and  tucked  well  under 
him,  should  follow  his  fore  legs  with  regularity  ; and  if  it 
running  him  up  hill  he  goes  without  dragging  his  toe,  yo* 


At  one  Year  old. 


At  Three  Years  old. 


At  Four  Years  old. 


AGE  OF  THE  HORSE,  AS  INDICATED  BY  THE  TEETH. 


At  Two  Years  old. 


At  Five  years  old 


At  Six  Years  old. 


At  Eight  Years  old. 


At  Seven  Years  old. 


I 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE.  263 

may  infei  the  same  behind.  In  the  gallop,  if  he  takes  up 
tris  legs  quick  and  dashes  in  his  haunches,  not  bringing 
nis  hind  legs  after  him,  his  action  is  good.  During  this 
display  of  action,  the  examinant  will  have  an  opportunity 
of  judging  of  the  perfection  of  his  wind  ; if  he  does  not 
ride  the  animal  himself,  he  should  stand  close  to  the  horse 
at  the  moment  he  comes  in  to  the  gallop. 

The  thick-winded  horse  breathes  with  difficulty  and  is 
soon  distressed.  The  flanks  heave  much  and  rapidly ; 
there  is  some  little  noise  ; but  the  laborious  heaving  of 
the  flank  is  the  principal  indication.  A horse  unused  to 
exercise,  or  if  fat,  or  exercised  on  a full  stomach,  will  show 
symptoms  of  thick  wind ; and  it  has  been  observed  of 
great  feeders,  who  never  breathe  freely  until  they  have  gone 
a mile  or  two,  or  begin  to  sweat,  that  they  are  able  to  do 
more  work  than  others  that  do  not  labour  under  the  same 
difficulty. 

The  wheezer,  in  addition  to  being  thick  winded,  ut- 
ters a sound  like  an  asthmatic  person  when  a little  hurried. 
Wheezing  may  frequently  be  heard  while  at  rest  in  the 
stable. 

The  piper,  or  whistler,  utters  a shriller  sound  than  the 
wheezer,  but  it  is  only  heard  after  exercise,  and  that  of 
some  continuance;  a short  gallop  up  hill  is  sometimes  ne- 
cessary to  develope  it,  but  the  whistler  is  soon  distressed. 
‘‘Never  buy  a whistler;  he  cannot  improve  on  your  hand, 
and  he  is  almost  sure  to  get  to  worse,”  said  Sir  Henry  Pey- 
ton to  Nimrod  ; an  opinion  to  which  I cordially  subscribe; 
and  the  same  advice  may  be  given  of  all  these  affections 
of  the  air  passages. 

Roaring  is  not  heard  at  rest.  In  the  majority  it  is  only 
developed  by  exertion,  which  quickens  the  breathing,  and 
the  noise  is  increased  in  proportion  as  the  pace  is  acceler- 
ated ; though  in  a few  it  is  audible  as  soon  as  put  into  the 
trot.  Knowing  dealers,  who  wish  to  prevent  the  noise 
from  reaching  the  ears  of  an  experienced  purchaser,  when 
shewing  a “ Bull”  of  good  action,  start  the  horse  a consid- 
erable distance  before  putting  him  to  the  gallop,  and  in  re- 
turning, slacken  the  pace,  so  that  the  breathing  becomes 
tranquil  before  the  horse  reaches  the  examiner ; this  is 
called  “ coming  the  long  trot.”  Many  of  these  lesions  are 
consequences  of  inflamed  lungs,  or  diseased  alterations  of 
the  air  passages  and  most  of  them  are  modifications  of  the 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


2fi4 

?ame  disease.  Sometimes  they  exist  in  so  slight  a degree, 
as  to  be  discoverable  only  by  quick  and  long-continued  ex- 
ertion ; but,  when  they  are  suspected,  they  should  be  tried 
by  a brushing  gallop,  though  this  is  not  always  allowed. 

The  only  other  simple  and  practicable  plan  to  get  at  the 
state  of  the  breathing,  is  the  common  way  of  making  the 
horse  cough,  which  if  gross,  and  accompanied  by  a short 
groan,  is  conclusive,  and  the  characteristic  grunt,  when 
alarmed,  is  not  to  be  misunderstood.  But  the  cough  is 
not  always  marked,  and  therefore  not  infallible.  If  there- 
fore there  is  any  cause  for  doubt  and  suspicion,  it  is  better 
to  call  in  a professional  man,  more  especially  as  the  slight- 
er affections  are  apt  suddenly  to  terminate  in  the  greater, 
without  much  warning,  in  a very  short  time. 

We  now  proceed  to  search  for  blemishes  and  those  in- 
dications of  unsoundness  which  are  apparent  to  external 
examination,  bearing  in  mind,  any  symptoms  or  suspicious 
appearances  in  his  action,  that  may  lead  us  to  suspect  par- 
ticular parts  which  should  then  be  subjected  to  the  sever- 
est scrutiny. 

Any  scars  about  the  head,  should  direct  attention  to  the 
knees,  or  they  may  lead  one  to  suspect  there  may  have 
been  an  attack  of  megrims  or  staggers. 

The  neck  should  be  searched  to  ascertain  that  both  jug- 
ular veins  are  perfect,  which  is  discovered  by  pressing  on 
the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  with  sufficient  force  to  stop  the 
return  of  blood  from  the  head  ; if  the  vein  be  perfect,  it 
will  fill  and  swell  from  that  point  upwards  towards  the 
head.  The  loss  of  one  of  them,  if  recent,  predisposes  the 
horse  to  staggers  or  apoplexy,  and  he  cannot  be  turned  out 
to  grass  or  straw  yard  without  risk.  The  withers  should 
be  examined  for  bruises  from  the  saddle,  as  he  is  unser- 
viceable as  long  as  heat  or  swelling  continues. 

The  slightest  tendency  to  sore  back  makes  a horse  un 
serviceable  for  many  months,  and  not  unfrequently  causes 
him  to  rear  and  plunge  on  mounting. 

The  shoulders  should  be  examined  for  tumours.  If  there 
are  any  marks  of  setons  or  blisters  about  the  points,  it  is 
probable  he  has  been  treated  for  shoulder  lameness,  and 
the  attention  of  the  examinant  will  be  directed  to  the  foot 
wlncn,  ninety-nine  times  out  of  a hundred,  is  the  seat  of 
lameness  before  If  that  is  found  round  and  strong,  with 
the  heels  high,  we  may  suspect  navicular  disease. 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


265 


The  chest  and  breast  should  also  be  searched  for  marks 
of  rowels,  setons,  and  blisters,  for  the  remains  of  them  ren- 
der it  probable  that  the  horse  has  been  under  treatment  for 
inflamed  lungs  or  chest  affections,  and  should  in  prudence 
direct  the  purchaser  to  ascertain  by  a smart  gallop  whe- 
ther the  mischief  is  of  a permanent  nature,  more  especially 
if  the  horse  is  narrow-chested. 

The  knees  should  be  examined  with  the  utmost  care 
first  that  they  correspond  in  shape,  and  secondly,  to  ascer- 
tain whether  the  skin  has  been  broken  by  falls  ; but  it  does 
not  follow  that  a mark  or  scar  indicates  a stumbler,  and  an 
accidental  blemish  should  not  induce  us  at  once  to  con- 
demn a well-formed  animal. 

A broken  knee  may  happen  from  a variety  of  causes. 
The  safest  horse  may  fall  by  an  unavoidable  accident,  such 
as  a false  step,  from  any  thing  giving  way  under  the  foot, 
as  a round  stone,  from  fatigue  and  over  exertion,  or  from 
a bad  rider.  But  a broken  knee  is  a suspicious  circum- 
stance ; it  may  be  taken  as  an  indication  of  existing  or  re- 
cent unsoundness,  and  the  slightest  mark  calls  for  the  most 
careful  observation  of  every  part  of  the  horse,  of  his  make 
and  action,  and  suggests  the  narrowest  scrutiny  of  the  legs 
and  feet ; a tight  shoe,  a nail  driven  too  close,  or  from  bad 
shoeing.  The  toe  being  left  too  long  open,  causes  a horse 
to  trip,  tenderness  in  the  feet,  contraction,  groggy  lame- 
ness, corns,  and  thrush:  a scar  on  the  head,  above  the  eye, 
(for  a decided  fall  of  the  horse  leaves  unequivocal  signs 
there)  is  a suspicious  sign  ; when  no  trace  of  local  disease 
can  be  found  to  account  for  them,  the  inquiry  should  be 
followed  up  into  the  horse’s  constitution,  for  the  staggers 
or  megrims  may  have  occasioned  the  accident. 

When  a scar  on  the  knee  is  observed  in  connection  with 
low  withers,  a thick  and  upright  shoulder  and  pasterns, 
with  the  legs  inclined  under  the  bone,  he  is  unwise  who 
does  not  take  the  hint  that  the  faulty  formation  has  not 
produced  its  natural  consequence.  To  discover  the  in  teg 
rity  of  the  knee,  is  not  so  easy  as  some  suppose,  as  occa- 
sionally the  hair  grows  so  well  over  the  wound,  as  to  leave 
it  hardly  discernible  ; but  on  minute  inspection,  when  there 
has  been  a scar,  an  interception  of  the  gloss  is  apparent,  as 
if  the  hair  grew  in  an  oblique  direction  ; should  this  be 
observed  on  bending  the  joint,  the  secret  will  be  exposed. 

23 


'266 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


The  shank  should  be  examined  for  splint,  strained  01 
enlarged  flexors,  and  the  marks  of  firing  or  blis;ers. 

In  inspecting  the  leg,  the  eye  alone  should  n:>t  be  trust- 
ed, particularly  in  hairy-legged  horses  ; but  after  minute- 
ly comparing  the  appearance  of  the  two  limbs,  the  hand 
should  be  deliberately  passed  down  both  shanks  before  and 
behind  ; any  difference,  before  or  behind,  points  to  a devi- 
ation from  health. 

In  the  sound  flat-limb,  the  tendon  is  well  defined,  per- 
fectly distinct,  and  has  a hard  tense  feel  that  resembles  the 
touch  of  a cord  tightly  strung.  If  the  back  sinews  feel 
thick,  the  flexor  tendons  and  their  sheaths  swelled  and 
rounded,  leaving  no  distinctive  marks  as  it  were  between 
the  one  and  the  other,  but  all  swelled  into  one  mass  with 
the  bone,  great  mischief  has  at  some  time  happened ; eith- 
er some  of  the  ligaments  have  been  ruptured,  or  there  has 
been  inflam ation,  effusion,  and  adhesion  of  the  vaginial 
bursae,  or  synovial  sheaths  of  the  flexor  tendons  ; or  such 
relaxation  has  taken  place  from  strain  and  subsequent  in- 
flamation  as  will  always  keep  him  weak.  When  the  inju- 
ry is  recent,  it  is  accompanied  with  more  or  less  swelling, 
heat,  and  lameness  ; by  time  and  treatment  the  first  are 
removed,  but  the  swelling  remains,  and  the  thickning  of 
the  tendons  shews  the  mischief  that  has  been  done.  When- 
ever there  is  manifest  alteration  of  structure  here,  and  yet 
the  animal  is  apparently  sound  in  action,  the  purchaser 
should  bear  in  mind  that  the  soundness  is  often  the  effect 
of  rest ; and  should  the  animal  be  again  put  to  work,  he 
will  become  lame. — And  bear  in  mind,  in  such  case,  you 
cannot  return  him,  for  no  man  in  his  senses  would  give  a 
special  warrantry  against  it. 

Splints, — If  large,  are  apparent  oy  the  deviation  of  the 
outline  of  the  leg ; if  small,  the  hand  discovers  them. 

Every  excrescence  on  the  cannon  bone,  in  horseman’s 
language,  is  termed  a splint.  The  true  splint  is  in  fact  a 
local  conversion  into  bone  of  a part  of  the  temporary  car- 
tilage, connecting  together  the  large  and  small  metacarpal 
bones.  The  inflammation  is  set  up  by  concussion  or  strain 
Horses  are  lame  from  them,  while  there  is  inflammation 
in  the  cartilage.  But  when  the  tumour  is  formed,  the  in 
flammation  has  subsided,  and  the  periostrum  has  accom 
modated  itself  to  the  enlargement,  the  horse  is  no  longer 
lame,  nor  more  likely  to  become  lame  from  that  splint, 


PERPENDICULAR  SECTION  OF  THE  FOOT  AND  PASTERNS. 


q Crust,  or 
wall. 

t Horny  sole 


a Flexor  tendon, 
flrhich  continues 
by  b,  nearly  down 
to  g,  where  it  is 
inserted  in  the 
coffin  hone. 
e Sessamoid  bones. 


d Ligament  uniting 
sessamoid  bone 
to  large  pastern. 


e Navicular  or  nut  bone. 


h Elastic  matter  or  sensi- 
ble frog. 

/ Part  of  Coffin-bone  where 
the  flexor  tendon  is  in- 
serted. 


m m The  shank-bone. 
r Ligament  extending 
from  pasterns  to  knee. 
s Tendon  uniting  pas 
t<  rns  to  offin-bone# 
n The  large  pastern. 

o Small  pastern,  or 
coronary  bone. 


p Coffin  bone. 


d lament  uniting  navicular-bone  to  coffin-bone.  1c  P art  to  bleed  in  severe 

Inflammation  of  foot. 

c Elastic  matter  or  sensible  sole. 


) 

SECTION  OF  THE  FOOT  OF  THE  HORSE. 


The  outside 
crust  of  the 
hoof. 


e e Hollow  sur- 
faces on  the 
inner  part  of 
the  homy 
frog. 


g g The  bars. 
^Continuation 
of  horny 
lining. 


l 


b Coronary  ring- 
c Homy  plates, 
on  the  inner 
surface  of 
the  crust. 


k Rounded  part  of  heel. 


/External  cleft 
of  the  frog. 


- 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


267 


than  one  without ; the  same  causes  that  produced  the  first, 
may  produce  a second. 

The  splint,  if  so  large  as  to  interfere  with  action,  render- 
ing the  horse  liable  to  strike,  is  objectionable,  or  so  near 
the  knee  or  ligaments  as  to  interfere  with  their  freedom  of 
action ; otherwise  they  are  of  very  little  consequence  be- 
yond the  blemish  destroying  the  line  of  beauty.  The  worst 
splints  are  those  not  discernible  but  by  the  lameness  they 
produce. 

Any  marks  of  firing  or  blistering  should  make  the  pur- 
chaser cautious,  and  endeavour  to  ascertain  the  cause  ol 
the  treatment ; after  blistering,  the  hair  is  sometimes  a 
shade  different  in  the  colour,  and  stares  a little,  is  shorter 
and  bristly,  and  wants  the  natural  gloss. 

The  fetlock  joint,  from  being  the  principal  seat  of  motion 
below  the  knee,  and  from  its  complicated  structure,  is  par- 
ticularly subject  to  injuries.  The  fetlocks  should  be  sub- 
jected to  the  strictest  examination,  for  enlargements,  which 
are  best  ascertained  by  carefully  comparing  them  with 
each  other,  as  any  difference  in  size  is  indicative  of  strain- 
ed or  even  ruptured  ligaments,  and  consequently  perma- 
nent weakness  of  that  important  part. 

If  the  injury  is  recent,  there  probably  will  be  heat,  and 
pain  on  pressure ; and  any  signs  of  blistering  or  other 
treatment,  though  no  enlargement  or  lameness  is  appa- 
rent, should  induce  the  buyer  to  view  the  animal  with  the 
utmost  suspicion. 

If  there  are  any  sore  or  callous  places  about  the  fetlocks 
or  pasterns,  he  is  a cutter,  and  possibly  the  marks  of  the 
foot  may  be  visible.  If  there  is  no  mal -formation  to  ac- 
count for  it,  it  may  have  been  done  when  fatigued,  or  it 
may  have  arisen  from  improper  shoeing ; his  feet  should 
then  be  examined. 

If  an  old  offence,  he  may  probably  have  a peculiar  shoe, 
rather  thicker  and  narrower  in  the  web  on  the  inside  than 
the  outside,  and  nailed  only  on  the  outside  of  the  foot,  and 
round  the  toe ; or  the  opposite  shoe  is  found  filed  away  or 
bevilled  off,  with  the  hoof  projecting  a little  over  the  shoe. 
Where  the  feet,  though  well  formed,  are  placed  closer  than 
desirable  in  narrow-chested  horses,  and  therefore  apt  to 
cut,  particularly  when  tired,  we  sometimes  find  a shoe  is 
adopted  thinner  on  the  inside  than  the  outside. 


269 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


At  other  times  various  ingenious  devices,  calculated  ra 
ther  to  inciease  than  remedy  the  evil,  have  been  resorted 
to,  such  as  putting  on  shoes  narrower  on  the  inside,  and 
set  within  the  crust,  and  the  wall  of  the  quarters  reduced 
in  thickness  by  the  rasp.  If  none  cf  these  schemes  have 
been  resorted  to,  to  obviate  the  defect,  the  horn  of  the  op- 
posite foot  will  sometimes  be  found  polished  by  the  attri- 
tion ; for  it  is  not  the  shoe  that  cuts  once  in  a hundred  times, 
but  the  lioof.  In  horses  that  interfere,  we  generally  find 
the  inside  quarter  lower  than  the  outer,  or  the  toes  turned 
outwards — the  fault  being  in  the  leg  that  receives  the  mis- 
chief while  sustaining  the  weight,  not  in  the  foot  that  gives 
the  blow.  The  tired  horse  throws  his  legs  about,  and  fre- 
quently cuts  himself ; and  it  is  the  fault  of  most  young  un- 
educated horses,  especially  if  they  have  been  backed  or 
inconsiderately  worked  too  early. 

If  there  are  any  symptoms  of  knuckling  or  inclination  of 
the  fetlocks  forward,  serious  injury  has  happened. 

The  hair  above,  and  below  the  fetlock  joint,  should  be 
carefully  searched  for  the  scars  left  by  the  operation  of 
neurotomy , (the  division  of  the  nerves  that  supply  the  foot 
with  sensation ;)  pricking  the  fetlock  with  a pin,  if  you 
have  reason  to  suspect  it  has  been  destroyed.  About  the 
fetlocks  are  frequently  found  little  puffy  tumours,  absurdly 
denominated  wind-galls,  from  a supposition  of  the  farrier 
that  they  contained  wind. 

Whenever  parts  move  and  press  on  each  other,  and  be- 
tween tendons,  particularly  about  the  extremities,  there 
are  placed  little  vesicles,  or  shut  socks,  technically  termed 
burses  mucascs , containing  synovia,  or  joint  oil,  a lubricating 
fluid  to  prevent  friction,  in  sufficient  quantity  for  all  ordi- 
nary purposes  of  the  animal.  But  when  the  horse  has  been 
compelled  to  undergo  exertion  beyond  that  which  is  nat- 
ural and  beneficial,  an  increased  supply  of  synovia  is  se- 
creted, which  distends  the  capsule  : a repetition  sets  up 
chronic  inflam ation  of  the  synovial  membrane — morbid  se- 
cretion and  visible  enlargement  is  the  result.  There  are 
very  few  horses  that  have  done  much  work  that  are  with- 
out them. 

Though  rest  and  pressure  will  diminish  them,  when  once 
enlarged,  labour  will  be  sure  to  reproduce  them  ; they  sel- 
dom occasion  any  local  disturbance,  and  are  of  no  conse- 
quence beyond  the  blemish,  unless  they  are  very  large 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE 


^6& 


and  in  most  cases  may  be  regarded  as  mere  indications  of 
nara  work. 

The  pastern  is  the  seat  of  a bony  tumour  termed  ring- 
oone ; it  is  the  result  of  inflammation  and  partial  conversion 
into  bone  of  that  portion  of  the  cartilages  of  the  foot  .which 
nse  above  and  nearly  encircle  the  coronet.  These  cartil- 
ages, extending  backward  considerably  beyond  the  coffin 
bone,  form  the  elastic  frame  of  the  posterior  parts  of  the 
foot ; they  here  take  on  the  name  of  the  lateral  cartilages . 
When  once  ossified  inflammation  is  set  up  in  this  part,  from 
its  tend  jncy  to  spread  around  the  pastern  joint,  it  has  taken 
its  name  of  ring-bone.  When,  however,  the  ossification 
appear  s only  at  the  quarters,  it  is  termed  ossification  of  tht 
lateral  cartilages , or  side  bones.  It  is  discovered  by  their 
prominency  and  their  rigidity,  when  pressed  between  the 
finge-  and  thumb.  Upon  the  integrity  of  these  parts  de- 
pend the  elasticity  and  consequent  usefulness  of  the  foot. 
How  sver  trifling  the  apparent  alteration  of  structure,  it  is 
a serious  detraction  from  the  efficiency  of  a hack;  though, 
on  soft  ground,  at  a slow  pace,  the  draught  horse  will  work 
app'mently  sound. 

We  now  arrive  at  the  foot,  the  foundation  of  the  horse, 
and  too  much  attention  cannot  be  paid  to  it.  If  it  is  imper- 
fect. all  other  perfections  are  valueless.  The  best  way  of 
judging  whether  there  is  any  mal -formation  of  the  feet,  eith- 
er natural  or  the  result  of  disease,  is  to  front  the  horse,  and 
compare  the  two  feet  together;  small  feet  are  objection- 
able ; and  so  a very  large  foot,  that  is  disportionate  to  his 
size,  is  to  be  avoided. 

Its  wall  should  be  round,  smooth,  level,  and  of  a shin- 
ing dark  colour  ; full  in  front,  of  a proper  obliquity,  and 
free  from  ribs  or  seams,  and  perfectly  cool.  Its  proper  ob- 
liquity ought  to  be  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees  with 
the  plane  of  the  shoe.  If  the  angle  is  materially  less,  the 
sole  is  flat,  or  perhaps  convex  ; if  the  angle  exceeds  it,  the 
foot  is  contracted. 

When  the  outward  line  or  profile  of  the  hoof  is  in  egul  ir 
it  marks  what  is  called  a “ shelly  foot.”  This  is  decidedly 
bad.  If  therg  are  any  protuberances  or  rings  round  it, 
they  indicate  that  the  feet  have  been  affected  with  fever  to 
such  a degree  as  to  produce  unequal  growth  of  horn;  which 
frequently  leaves  some  injurious  consequences  in  the  inter- 
23*  19 


no 


1 fTE  iiorse-keepek’s  GUfJ)E. 


nal  part  of  the  hoof,  such  as  a deposition  of  lymph  b«* 
tween  the  horny  and  cartilaginous  processes,  which  con 
nect  the  foot  and  hoof  together.  If*  there  is  anv  depress 
ion  or  hollow,  it  betrays  separation  of  the  foot  from  the 
hoof,  and  sinking  of  the  coffin  bowl,  and  the  sole  will  be 
found  bulging. 

No  man  should  trust  to  a superficial  judgment  of  the 
foot;  for  though  he  may  see  the  form  and  shape  of  the 
foot  to  be  promising,  yet  there  are  other  things  to  be  con- 
sidered It  may  be  well  formed,  yet  thin  and  weak  ; and 
those  feet,  externally  the  most  perfect,  are  sometimes  con- 
tracted internally,  and  are  liable  to  the  insidious  affection  ter- 
med navicular,  or  joint  capsular  disease.  Contraction  is  a 
serious  defect ; it  is  apparent  and  general,  or  occult  (hidden) 
and  partial. 

When  apparent  externally,  which  is  very  common  a- 
mong  high  bred  horses,  with  light  heads  and  necks,  high  in 
the  withers  with  sloping  shoulders,  and  that  go  near  the 
ground,  the  foot  presents  more  an  oblong  than  a circular 
shape  ; the  curved  line  towards  the  heels  becoming  straight, 
and  the  heels  approaching  each  other.  The  frog  is  hard, 
dry,  and  compressed ; the  foot  small,  and  the  heels  up- 
right; altogether,  the  foot  more  resembles  that  of  a mule 
than  ahorse. 

But  though  a contracted  foot  is  often  an  indication  of 
past  disease,  and  there  is  a diminution  of  elasticity,  it 
by  no  means  follows  that  it  is  an  unsoundness,  or  incapaci- 
tates a horse  from  work.  With  care,  such  feet  will  work 
soundly  to  the  end  of  their  lives ; for  this  change  in  shape 
has  been  effected  by  gradual  and  slow  absorption  and  de- 
posite ; so  that  nature  has  had  time  to  adapt  the  internal 
parts,  and  accommodate  itself  to  the  change  ; for  elongation 
of  the  foot  has  taken  place.  When  such  feet  feel  hotter 
than  ordinary,  distrust  should  be  awakened,  more  especially 
if  tnere  is  a marked  difference  between  the  temperature  ol 
one  and  the  other.  If  there  is  indisputable  pointing,  then 
the  horse  is  unsound. 

Occult  or  partial  contraction  is  not  obvious  externally, 
but  there  is  diminished  cavity  of  the  horny  box  from  in- 
crease of  the  sole  in  thickness.  In  this  case  we  usually 
find  the  foot  of  a circular  figure,  more  upright  than  nat- 
ural, and  displaying  unusual  appearance  of  compact  ness 
of  force  and  strength,  the  soles  unusually  hard  and  thick 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


271 


and  if  you  have  a firm  urj/ielding  sole,  in  a circular  foot,  it 
is  a rock  of  danger,  and  the  forerunner  of  navicular  disease 

The  inner  quarters  of  the  hoof  must  be  most  minutely 
inspected  for  sand-crack  ; and  it  is  not  always  easy,  with- 
out minute  scrutiny,  to  detect  a sand-crack,  where  an  at- 
tempt has  been  made  to  conceal  it.  A month's  run  in 
marshy  ground  will  often  close  it  up,  and  low  dealers,  par- 
ticularly at  fairs  and  markets,  and  others  who  gain  a live- 
lihood by  dealing  in  “ screws,"  have  a knack  of  neatly 
covering  the  crack  with  pitch,  and  the  foot  oiled,  so  as  ad- 
roitly to  conceal  the  crack  ; any  oily  appearance  about  the 
hoof  should  excite  suspicion,  and  any  fissure  at  all  resem- 
bling sand-crack  should  cause  the  horse  to  be  peremptorily 
rejected.  Cracks  in  dicate  a dry  and  brittle  hoof.  The 
heels  should  be  examined  for  any  cracks,  or  appearance  of 
heat  and  tenderness,  as  they  are  exceedingly  troublesome 
to  cure. 

The  frog,  in  its  healthy  state,  must  be  firm  yet  pliable 
and  elastic.  If  there  is  any  smell,  or  if  on  squeezing  the 
frog  matter  exudes,  there  is  a thrush.  By  many  people, 
thrushes  are  considered  of  little  importance  ; but  when  it 
is  considered  that  where  there  is  purulent  matter  there 
must  have  been  inflammation  ; and  that  when  a horse  with 
a thrush  steps  on  a stone,  he  frequently  drops  with  the 
pain  as  if  he  was  shot,  to  the  peril  of  his  rider  and  the 
ruin  of  his  knees,  it  must  be  admitted  they  are  serous 
objections  in  a saddle  horse.  If  it  can  be  ascertained  tliat 
they  are  not  of  long  standing,  or  that  the  horse  has  been 
placed  in  a situation  so  as  to  favour  their  approach,  mu  h 
as  confinement  in  a hot  moist  litter,  they  are  of  no  more 
consequence  than  so  much  diminution  in  his  price  as  will 
cover  the  expense  of  keep  and  attendance  while  healing  ; 
but  when  a thrush  accompanies  a foot  smaller  than  usual, 
the  heels  wind  in,  and  the  frog  rotten,  let  him  go  as  he 
will,  he  will  not  long  remain  sound. 

The  sole  of  the  foot  should  be  subject  to  close  examina- 
tion ; in  its  healthy  and  natural  state  it  is  inclined  to  be 
concave,  but  if  in  connexion  with  high  heels  an  extraor- 
dinary concavity  is  present,  it  is  a sign  of  internal  contrac- 
tion ; if  the  sole  is  morbidly  thick,  and  does  not  give  way 
during  great  exertion,  the  elasticity  of  the  foot  must  be 
diminished.  If  the  sole  is  less  concave  than  natural,  o* 
approaching  to  flat,  the  foot  is  weak. 


272 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE 


If  the  foot  appears  to  have  been  cut  unusually  deep  ai 
the  angles  where  the  shoe  meets  the  inside  heel,  or  if 
there  is  any  peculiarity  of  shoeing  at  that  part,  the  exami- 
ner  may  infer  all  is  not  right,  and  that  he  has  corns  ; and 
if  he  waits  for  the  proof,  send  for  the  farrier  to  remove 
the  shoe. 

The  stifle  is  very  rarely  diseased;  but  it  should  be  exa« 
mined  for  enlargement,  or  any  marks  of  firing,  or  blister 
ing;  and  the  groin  should  not  be  overlooked  for  rupture. 

The  hock  is  one  of  the  most  important  joints  in  the 
animal  machine,  and  should  always  undergo  the  most  rigid 
examination  previous  to  purchase,  as  from  its  complicated 
structure,  and  the  work  it  has  to  perform,  it  is  the  seat  of 
lameness  behind  in  nine  cases  out  c f ten. 

When  standing  behind  the  horse,  if  one  of  the  hocks 
is  diseased,  the  observer  will  perceive  the  bone  does  not 
incline  gradually,  as  in  the  sound  limb,  but  there  is  an  ab- 
rupt prominence.  Though  to  the  unpractised  eye  this  is 
not  always  perceptible  on  comparing  them,  yet  by  passing 
the  hand  down  the  inside  of  both  hocks,  this  abruptness 
will  be  felt.  If  there  is  any  tenderness  or  heat,  on  pres- 
sure, or  the  marks  of  recent  cutting  on  the  inside  of  the 
fetlock,  or  unequal  wear  of  the  shoes,  especially  at  the  toe. 
you  may  suspect  spavin.  Sometimes  both  hocks  present 
an  enlarged  appearance,  though  there  is  neither  heat,  pain, 
or  lameness  (for  hock  lameness  is  frequently  intermittent), 
such  hocks  should  always  be  looked  upon  with  suspicion; 
they  are  in  fact  unsound:  for  though  the  animal  may,  with 
natural  mal-formation  or  exostial  growth,  the  result  of  dis- 
ease, discharge  his  usual  functions  through  life,  without  a 
return  of  lameness  in  careful  hands  ; yet  the  probability 
is  he  will  fail,  if  called  upon  for  any  unusual  exertion,  and 
that  one  day’s  extra  work  will  ruin  him  for  ever.  In  this 
case,  the  examinant  must  be  guided  by  circumstances  : if 
the  horse  has  excellencies  which  counterbalance  the  defect, 
the  price  is  correspondingly  low,  and  if  the  work  required 
is  but  moderate,  he  may  be  serviceable  for  many  a year. 

Certain  forms  of  hock  are  more  subject  to  disease:  those 
approaching  each  other,  termed  lo  v hocks,  are  predisposed 
Lo  spavin  and  curb  ; those  in  which  the  point  of  the  hock 
inclines  too  much  backward,  are  liable  to  spavin;  and  when 
the  hock  is  too  up  right,  narrow  and  straight,  it  is  subject 
o tiioroughpin.  Canned  hock  is  a soft  fluctuating  tumoui 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


273 


on  the  point  of  the  hock ; it  is  an  enlargement  of  one  of 
the  mucous  cajpsules  which  surround  the  tendons  inserted 
into  that  part.  It  is  produced  by  blows,  lying  on  rough 
stones,  or  kicking  in  the  harness  or  stable,  and  is  therefore 
frequently  a sign  of  vice. 

Curb  is  a longitudinal  swelling  at  the  back  of  the  hind 
leg,  three  or  four  inches  below  the  hock,  seen  best  from 
the  horse’s  side  ; the  enlargement  is  the  result  of  a sudden 
strain  of  the  annular  ligaments,  or  inflammation  of  the 
sheaths  of  the  tendon.  It  is  attended  with  a good  deal  of 
lameness  and  swelling  at  first ; but  when  that  has  subsided, 
and  if  any  time  has  elapsed  without  a recurrence  of  the 
lament  ss,  it  is  of  no  more  consequence  than  the  unsightly 
blemish ; but  it  should  be  remembered  that  curby  hocks 
are  liable  to  spavin. 

Tjhoroughpin  is  situated  above  the  hock  joint,  between 
the  flexors  of  the  hock  and  foot,  projecting  on  each  side  ; 
it  is  of  the  same  nature  as  wind-galls,  being  an  enlarged 
mucous  capsule,  and  is  indicative  of  severe  work  or  over 
exertion. 

Bog,  or  blood,  or  spavin,  is  a swelling  situated  in  front 
of  the  hock,  towards  the  middle  of  the  joint ; it  is  also  an 
enlarged  mucous  capsule,  but  deeper  seated  ; over  which 
one  of  the  sub-cutaneous  veins  passing,  the  blood  in  which 
becoming  obstructed  in  the  return,  increases  the  size  of  the 
tumour. 

The  shanks  should  be  scrutinized  for  any  symptoms  ol 
weakness,  and  the  fetlocks  for  marks  of  cutting  and  wind 
galls. 

The  front  of  the  hind  feet  should  be  examined  for  fissure; 
it  is  a most  serious  defect,  and  generally  produces  lame- 
ness. Notice  the  way  in  which  he  is  shod,  as  it  leads  to 
the  discovery  of  lameness  and  defects  in  action ; though 
in  deders’  stables  you  will  rarely  see  any  peculiarity  in 
shoeing. 

If  the  toe  of  the  hind  foot  is  found  to  extend  a little 
over  the  shoe,  it  is  to  prevent  “ hammer  and  click  ” from 
being  audible.  If  the  toes  of  the  hind  feet  drag,  or  we 
find  the  shoe  squared  off  or  worn,  we  may  suspect  disease 
of  the  hocks  ; and  if  the  inside  of  the  shoe  is  bevilled  off, 
it  is  the  dgn  of  a cutter. 

He  should  now  be  backed,  to  ascertain  if  he  has  recei 


274 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


ved  any  injury  of  the  spine  ; if  he  backs  with  difficulty, 
his  hind  quarters  swaying  from  side  to  side,  and  when 
compelled  to  retrogade  suddenly  he  appears  as  if  about  to 
fall,  he  has  received  some  injury.  Some  horses  cannot  be 
made  to  back,  but  when  urged  rear  on  their  hind  legs. 
His  loins  should  be  searched  for  marks  of  setons,  or  blis- 
ters. Among  stable  men  it  is  termed  “ chinked  in  the 
chine,”  or,  rigged  in  the  hock. 

A singular  symptom  of  diseased  spine  sometimes  shews 
itself  where  nothing  had  been  previously  suspected ; that 
is,  of  sometimes  dropping  when  turned  suddenly  in  the 
trot,  the  hinder  quarters  appearing  as  if  paralyzed  ; in  one 
case,  after  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  reproduce  it,  it 
was  developed  by  a man  startling  him  from  a stable  door 
as  he  trotted  past  it  up  the  ride. 

There  are  many  blemishes  and  defects  that  render  a 
hack  unserviceable,  which  are  of  little  or  no  consequence 
in  harness.  The  greatest  virtue  in  a gig  horse  is  steadiness, 
which  can  only  be  ascertained  by  trial,  and  do  not  trust  to 
the  steadiness  he  evinces  while  the  reins  are  in  his  owner’s 
hands.  The  author  of  that  admirable  little  work,  “ The 
Adventures  of  a Gentleman  in  search  of  a Horse,”  truly 
says,  “ whoever  buys  a Stanhope  horse  without  first  driving 
him  himself,  is  a fit  subject  for  a commission  of  lunacy ; it 
is  not  enough  to  put  him  on  the  break,  he  should  be  har- 
nessed at  once  to  the  Stanhope,  and  it  is  prudent  to  observe 
how  he  bears  the  ceremony  of  harnessing,  and  what  kind 
of  start  he  makes.  Much  may  be  predicted  by  his  qualifi- 
cations for  draught,  or  at  all  events  his  familiarity  with  the 
collar,  by  the  degree  of  quiet  with  which  he  allows  himself 
to  be  put  to. 

“•  If  the  ostler  runs  alongside  of  him  at  setting  off,  as  is 
often  the  case,  you  may  be  sure  the  horse  is  distrusted  ; if 
j ou  distrust  it  yourself,  have  nothing  to  do  with  him.” 

The  eyes. — The  horse  should  now  be  returned  to  the 
stable  for  the  put  pose  of  examining  his  eyes,  the  most  fa- 
vourable position  for  which  is  about  half  a foot  within  the 
stable  door.  There  should  be  no  back  or  side  lights,  or 
the  rays,  falling  between  the  eyes  of  the  examiner  and  the 
animal,  will  prevent  him  seeing  distinctly.  The  head  should 
be  so  placed  that  a moderate  light  should  fall  on  the  eye 
of  the  horse,  and  the  quantity  of  light  can  be  easily  regu 
latea  by  bringing  the  horse’s  head  more  or  less  forward 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


275 


until  it  is  placed  in  the  most  favourable  direction  for  ob- 
servation. 

Though  every  horseman  can  detect  absolute  blindness, 
yet  the  eye  of  the  horse  is  susceptible  of  so  many  diseases, 
in  which  defective  vision  or  partial  blindness  exists  in  such 
a form,  long  before  the  sight  is  lost,  that  it  requires  not 
only  more  observation  than  most  people  imagine,  but  a 
person  unacquainted  with  its  anatomical  structure,  and  the 
different  appearances  it  assumes,  cannot  perceive  it  at  all 
There  are  certain  forms  of  the  eye,  and  structural  pecu 
liarities,  that  show  a constitutional  predisposition  to  disease 
— thus,  small  sleepy  eyes,  of  a blueish  grey  colour,  or 
when  they  have  a flat,  retracted,  and  sunken  appearance, 
oi  those  of  a longish  oval  figure,  are  predisposed  to  opthal- 
mia , or  when  the  eyes  appear  full,  with  a fleshy  circle 
around  them,  the£e  are  all  symptoms  of  badness  of  eye, 
and  are  the  forerunners  of  blindness,  particularly  in  the 
heads  of  coarse  and  fleshy  horses,  with  heavy  countenances, 
who  usually  go  blind  with  cataracts  at  seven  years  old. 

Slight  thickenings  of  the  lid  or  puckering  towards  the 
inner  corner  of  the  eye,  a difference  in  size,  a cloudiness, 
or  dullness  of  the  iris,  are  several  indications  of  disease, 
that  a purchaser  should  beware  of. 

In  examining  the  eyes,  both  must  have  an  equal  degree 
of  light ; if  any  difference  is  apparent  between  them,  one 
must  be  diseased.  The  cornea,  or  transparent  part  of  the 
eye,  should  be  perfectly  clear. 

Specks  are  best  detected  by  standing  at  the  shoulder ; if 
one  is  evident,  and  it  can  be  clearly  proved  to  be  no  more 
than  the  effect  of  accident,  no  importance  need  be  placed 
on  it.  But  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  this,  and  therefore 
the  safest  course  is  to  assume  that  natural  irritability  and 
consequent  inflammation  of  the  eye  is  the  cause. 

Specks  on  the  transparent  cornea  are  generally  the  re- 
sult of  external  injury ; there  is  seldom  more  than  one ; 
when  very  small  and  near  the  circumlerence,  they  are  of 
no  consequence  ; but  if  large,  or  near  che  centre,  they  in 
terfere  with  distinctness  of  vision,  and  make  the  horse  shy 
If  opaque  or  milky  lines  are  traced  on  its  surface,  it  be 
speaks  the  remains  of  former  inflammation. 

But  it  is  necessary  to  observe  that  horses,  before  they 
are  six  years  old,  have  not  that  transparency  in  their  eyes 
which  they  display  afterwards,  because,  while  young  and 


276 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


growing,  the  vessels  of  the  eye  are  full ; therefore,  before 
that  age,  it  is  not  the  brilliancy  of  the  eye  that  denotes  its 
goodness. 

If  there  is  an  excess  of  tears,  it  denotes  debility,  and 
should  occasion  a more  than  ordinary  scrutiny ; in  fact,  all 
horses  with  weeping,  dull,  cloudy  eyes,  should  be  rejected 
as  unsound. 

It  may  be  remarked,  as  a general  rule,  that  all  disease  of 
the  eye  are  incurable.  Have  nothing  to  do  with  a horse 
when  the  slightest  trace  of  disease  of  the  eye  is  visible . As  it 
is  impossible,  from  a superficial  examination,  to  distinguish 
between  simple  opthalmia  and  inflammation  of  the  con- 
junctiva, the  cause  of  which  has  been  a blow,  or  the  intro- 
duction of  some  irritating  matter,  such  as  a piece  of  dirt  or 
hay-seed,  which  is  curable  by  simple  means,  and  the  spe- 
cific opthalmia,  a spontaneous  affection,  which  ultimately 
terminates  in  cataract  and  blindness. 

Viewed  in  front,  the  depths  of  the  eye  should  be  looked 
into ; then  sideways  ; which  will  assist  in  ascertaining  the 
clearness  and  absence  of  specks  on  or  within  its  surface. 

Floating  in  the  aqueous  humour  (which  preserves  the  con- 
vexity of  the  cornea)  is  the  iris,  a muscular  membrane, 
whose  dilatation  and  contraction  forms  an  oval  aperture, 
termed  the  pupil,  which  varies  in  size  according  to  the 
quantity  of  light  which  falls  upon  the  eye. 

The  iris  varies  very  little  in  colour  in  the  horse,  though  it 
bears  some  analogy  to  the  colour  of  the  skin.  It  is  rarely 
lighter  than  a hazel,  or  darker  than  a brown ; except  in 
milk  white,  cream-coloured,  or  pied  horses,  when  it  is 
white,  and  they  are  termed  wall-eyed.  If  it  is  of  a pale 
variegated  cinnamon  colour,  it  is  good. 

The  pupil  or  aperture  of  the  iris,  is  that  horizontal  ob- 
long blueish  opening,  which  admits  the  light  to  the  posterior 
chambers  of  the  eye.  It  is  important  that  the  oval  shape* 
of  the  pupil  is  perfect,  for  if  any  irregularity  or  unevenness 
is  perceived,  it  is  a symptom  that  the  organ  has  received 
partial  injury.  In  looking  into  the  depths  of  the  eye, 
through  the  pupil,  in  a strong  light,  it  should  exhibit  a 
lively  blueishness  ; in  a moderate  light,  it  should  be  per- 
fectly transparent ; if  milky  or  turbid,  it  is  the  remains  of 
former  inflammation,  which  will  probably  recur. 

In  bringing  the  horse  out  of  the  stable  to  the  light,  if 
the  pupil  is  large,  it  is  a bad  sign  ; by  alternately  shading 


EXAMINATION  FOR  PURCHASE. 


277 


and  admitting  light,  if  it  enlarges  and  lessens  under  its 
stimulus,  it  is  an  infallible  sign  the  eye  is  good.  Bat  if  the 
retina  is  unmoveable,  the  pupil  larger  than  natural,  and  of 
one  invariable  size  when  shaded  or  exposed  to  intense 
lignt,  though  no  disorganization  is  apparent,  the  eye  ap 
nearing  bright,  of  a peculiar  glossy  aspect,  and  of  a green* 
ish  colour,  the  animal  is  blind  from  the  disease  termed 
glass  eye — a palsy  of  the  optic  nerve. 

A decided  cataract,  or  opacity  of  the  crystalline  lens,  or 
its  capsule,  is  easily  detected ; but  when  very  small,  they 
may  escape  observation.  It  appears  as  a cloudy  or  pearly 
white  substance  within  the  pupil  towards  the  bottom  of  the 
eye.  If  the  pupil  be  round  instead  of  a flat  oval,  it  is  an 
indication  of  cataract ; when  there  is  the  slightest  deep- 
seated  cloudiness,  the  eye  should  be  condemned  ; but  il 
there  is  any  white  object  before  it,  such  as  a white  hat, 
neckcloth,  waistcoat,  or  wall,  the  reflection  on  the  cornea 
produces  a mark  having  so  much  the  appearance  of  a cat- 
aract as  to  have  misled  many  an  experienced  observer. 
Therefore,  before  deciding,  hold  the  crown  of  a black  hat 
against  the  eye.  and  observe  at  the  same  time  if  the  mark 
disappears,  which  it  will,  if  it  is  only  a reflection. 

If  your  examination  has  proved  satisfactory,  and  you  de- 
cide on  purchasing ; before  you  part  with  your  money, 
learn  something  of  the  seller.  For  should  your  bargain 
not  turn  out  as  you  anticipate,  upon  further  acquaintance, 
trial,  and  second  examination,  you  will  Know  what  chance 
of  remedy  you  have  against  the  vendor. 

The  horse,  if  returned,  must  of  course  be  in  the  same 
condition  in  which  he  was  received,  except  so  far  as  the 
disease  for  which  he  is  returned  may  have  progressed  in 
the  uk  aii  time. 

It  is  advisable  to  enquire  of  the  seller  how  he  has  been 
accustomed  to  diet  and  clothe  the  animal ; whether  his  feet 
were  stopped  , and  the  same  treatment  should  be  pursued 
till  his  soundness  is  ascertained. 

Note  the  temperature  of  the  stable;  if  his  new  habita- 
tion should  be  hotter,  it  is  probable  you  may  induce  an  in- 
flammatory attack  of  the  lungs. 

Beware  of  putting  a saddle  on  a new  horse  that  does 
not  fit  him  ; while  the  question  of  soundness  is  still  doubt- 
ful, it  is  far  better  to  use  the  saddle  he  has  been  accustom- 
ed to. 


94 


278 


THE  HORSE-KEEfER/S  GUIfcfi 


If  his  back  becomes  galled  while  trying  him,  which  ii 
not  an  unusual  occurrence,  the  dealer  will  object  to  taka 
him  back,  unless  full  compensation  is  made  ; and  reasona- 
bly so,  for  he  is  unfitted  for  sale  or  for  work  till  it  is  heal- 
ed, which  is  not  to  be  effected  in  a day ; and  it  is  also  a 
point  for  calculation,  whether  he  may  not  chance  to  fall 
sick,  while  standing  in  high  condition  in  stable  ; in  which 
case  the  dealer  would  be  subjected  to  heavy  loss. 

It  is  therefore  not  prudent  to  remove  his  shoes,  or  in 
fact  to  do  any  thing  with  the  animal  which  may  cause 
doubt  or  cavil,  until  you  have  finally  decided  upon  keep- 
ing him. 


CHAPTER  I V. 

THE  STABLE,  AND  GROOMING. 

Before  we  proceed  to  the  management  of  the  horse  in 
the  stable,  it  will  be  as  well  to  say  something  about  the 
stable  itself.  This  should  have  been  constructed  so  as  to 
contribute  to  the  health  and  comfort  of  the  horse  ; and  be 
well  aired,  dry,  well  drained,  light,  and  sufficiently  spacious 
to  allow  the  necessary  grooming  operations  to  be  duly  per- 
formed. It  should  also  be  sheltered  from  the  coldest  winds, 
and  be  easy  of  access. 

A fault  not  sufficiently  avoided  in  stables,  is  the  crowd- 
ing too  many  horses  together  in  a comparatively  small 
space  : in  this  case,  the  temperature  is  liable  to  very  con- 
siderable alterations  of  heat  and  cold — transitions  injurious 
to  health,  and  productive  of  a train  of  disease**  affecting  tka 
host  and  lungs. 


THE  HORSE  KEEPER^  GUIDE. 


279 


The  parts  numbered  1,  2 and  3,  are  the  windows,  which 
must  be  as  elevated  as  the  height  of  the  stable  will  per- 
mit. 

It  will  be  observed  that  there  are  two  doors  to  this  sta- 
ble, one  at  each  end  ; but  it  will  be  also  noticed  that  they 
^pen  so  that  no  current  of  wind  can  affect  the  horses.  The 
stable  must  be  so  paved  that  all  the  wet  shall  drain  into  the 
gutter,  and  out  of  that  by  another  drain  to  carry  every 
thing  clean  away. 

The  walls  of  a stable  should  be  built  of  brick,  upon  a 
^routed  concrete  foundation,  which  will  effectually  prevent 
the  walls  from  ever  becoming  damp.  Stoue  is  occasionally 
used  ; but  it  has  no  advantage  over  brick.  The  wall  should 
not  be  less  than  nine  inches  thick ; but  if  fourteen  inches 
thick,  it  will  be  better.  Stables  should  not  be  constructed 
of  wood ; they  are  always  too  cold  in  winter,  and  too  warm 
in  summer.  The  inside  of  the  walls  may  be  plastered  or 
boarded ; but  the  stalls  should  all  be  lined  with  wrood  in 
front,  for  about  three  feet  above  the  manger,  and  sideways 
to  the  full  height  of  the  partitions.  Stalls  so  lined,  are 
very  durable ; and  when  the  upper  part  is  plastered,  the 
whole  stable  has  a clean  and  comfortable  appearance. 

Single-headed  stables,  that  is,  those  wherein  the  stalls 
are  ranged  on  one  side  only,  are  decidedly  the  best : dou- 
ble-headed stables,  where  the  space  between  is  contracted, 
are  very  objectionable,  as  many  accidents  arise  from  horses 
kicking  at  each  other;  which  some  are  very  apt  t j do, 
when  others  are  leaving  or  entering  the  stables  ; indeed, 
some  mischievous  horses  will  kick  whenever  another  horse 
passes  or  is  placed  directly  behind.  Where  the  stable  is 
double-headed,  the  space  between  the  rows  of  stalls  should 
not  be  less  than  six  to  eight  feet  in  width. 

The  door  of  the  stable  should  be  full  five  feet  wide, 
and  not  less  than  eight  feet  high.  It  is  too  generally  of  a 
less  width  ; but  as  the  custom  of  low  and  narrow  door 
ways  is  occasionally  productive  of  accident,  particularly 
with  sj  range  and  shy  horses,  a greater  width  and  height 
are  recommended  as  far  preferable.  The  sill  of  the  door 
should  be  raised  three  or  four  inches  above  the  outer  sur- 
face ; and  if  bevilled  off,  so  as  to  afford  no  obstruction  to 
the  entrance,  it  will  oe  better. 

Windows  are  very  often  too  much  neglected,  or  too 
•mall,  or  ill  rfaced.  Light  thrown  down  from  the  roof) 


280  „ 


THE  STABLE 


by  means  of  skylights,  which  partially  open  or  revolve 
and  can  be  readily  opened  or  closed  by  means  of  a cord 
are  excellent,  as  affording  good  ventilation.  In  all  stables, 
high  windows  answer  well,  when  of  sufficient  size,  ami 
so  placed  that  the  light  shall  not  fall  directly  upon  and 
affect  the  horses’  eyes.  To  obviate  this  as  far  as  possible, 
they  must  be  high  in  the  wall,  and  in  sufficient  number  to 
give  a good  light. 

It  is  a mistaken  opinion,  that  but  little  light  is  requisite 
in  a stable.  No  horse  was  ever  known  to  thrive  in  a dark 
stable;  but  many  a good  horse  has  had  his  sight  seriously 
affected  by  this  absurd  and  mischievous  practice.  It  may 
answer  a dealer’s  purpose  to  keep  his  horse  from  the  light 
till  brought  out  to  be  sold.  When  brought  out  from  a 
dark  stable  into  the  light  of  day,  a horse  very  naturally 
stares  about  him  ; he  looks  high,  carries  his  head  high, 
and  appears  as  if  he  had  a good  deal  of  action  and  anima- 
tion. Dark  stables  may  thus  suit  particular  purposes  ; but 
they  invariably  injure  the  horse’s  eyes  ; to  say  nothing  of 
the  necessity  of  light  in  the  several  grooming  operations, 
as  well  as  in  the  numberless  cases  which  arise  wherein 
immediate  assistance  is  necessary. 

The  roof  of  the  stable  usually  forms  the  floor  of  the 
hay-loft : in  this  case  the  ceiling  must  be  at  least  ten  to 
twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  and  higher,  if  more  than  four 
horses  be  kept  in  the  stable.  Where  there  is  no  loft  above, 
the  height  should  be  greater ; because,  in  summer,  the  sun 
makes  the  tiles  or  slates  hot,  and  the  stable  beco?nes  like 
an  oven  ; while,  in  winter,  the  cold,  and  sometimes  snow 
lying  on  the  roof,  converts  the  stable  into  something  like 
an  ice-house.  Such  extremes  must  be  avoided  : they  are 
prolifically  productive  of  disease. 

It  will  be  useful  to  keep  a barometer  in  the  stable  ; and 
the  nearer  to  the  temperate  point  the  temperature  can  be 
maintained,  the  better.  No  ill  scents  should  ever  be  dis- 
cerned in  a stable  ; these  are  easily  avoided  ; a due  regard 
to  cleanliness,  a good  ventilation,  and  a perfect  drainage, 
will  prevent  any  noisome  smell,  and  keep  the  stable  sweet 
and  clean. 

The  flooring  of  a stable  is  an  essential  part  of  the  inter- 
nal economy,  and  requires  particular  attention.  It  is  the 
\ net  ice,  in  man)  places  to  lay  the  floor  of  stables  with 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER  S GUIDE. 


281 


freestone  ; in  other  places,  hard  small  bricks,  arranged  or 
edge,  are  employed.  Both  are  good,  and  each  has  its  pe 
culiar  advantages  : the  brick  floor  affords  a firm  foothold, 
and  is  easily  kept  clean ; but  it  is  not  so  durable  as  the 
pavement. — The  stone  is  more  lasting ; but  it  is  apt  to  get 
glazed,  and  then  the  horses  are  likely  to  slip  about,  and 
may  break  a leg  or  slip  the  shoulder.  Deeply-cut  grooves 
may  prevent  this.  Floors  paved  with  small  stones,  after  the 
manner  of  a causeway,  are  objectionable,  unless  the  foun- 
dation be  made  of  grouting,  and  the  stones  laid  in  the 
same ; otherwise,  the  spaces  between  the  stones  receive 
and  retain  the  urine,  and  return  it  again  by  evaporation  ; 
hence  the  stable  is  never  sweet  and  seldom  dry ; and  damp 
stables  are  very  injurious.  Floorings  made  of  asphalte, 
or  other  bitumenous  concrete,  on  grouted  foundation,  are 
very  good  ; they  afford  a good  dry  footing,  and  are  easily 
kept  clean. 

A very  recent  addition  to  the  material  previously  em- 
ployed for  flooring  of  stables,  has  been  furnished  ; this  is 
cautchouc,  or  India-rubber.  How  far  this  may  prove  use- 
ful, has  yet  to  be  seen  ; its  introduction  has  been  too  recent 
to  warrant  any  very  decided  opinion  upon  its  merits ; but 
judging  from  analogy,  we  consider  ourselves  justified  in 
saying  that  it  bids  fair  to  succeed,  and  should  it  do  so,  there 
can  be  little  doubt  of  its  superseding  all  other  descriptions 
of  floorings  in  the  stables  of  the  wealthy. 

Equal  in  importance  with  the  flooring  of  the  stable,  is 
its  drainage  : one  of  the  most  effectual  ways  of  procuring 
this,  is  to  make  a drain,  the  whole  length  of  the  stable  ; 
and  have  a gutter  leading  to  a grating  placed  at  either  or 
both  ends  : the  flooring  of  the  stalls  should  have  a slight 
inclination,  so  that  the  urine,  &c.  may  drain  or  run  into  the 
gutter,  and  be  conveyed  thence  into  the  drain.  The  end 
of  the  drain  should  never  be  exposed  to  the  air,  but  should 
have  a stink-trap,  or  air-trap,  which  will  effectually  carry 
off  the  water,  and  prevent  any  noxious  vapours  from 
arising. 

Never  put  more  than  one  horse  in  a stall;  rest,  in  a 
recumbent  posture,  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  work- 
ing horses ; a narrow  stall  is  therefore,  from  this  reason, 
a serious  evil,  as  it  prevents  the  horse  from  taking  the  rest 
so  essential  to  his  being  able  to  resume  his  labour.  Nor 
can  a horse  do  full  work,  unless  he  have  a good  bed : pos 
24* 


282 


THE  STABLE. 


sibly,  instances  may  be  known  where  a horse  is  cramped 
in  a narrow  stall,  where  be  can  neither  lay  down  nor  stretch 
his  limbs,  but  be  compelled  to  stand  all  night ; and  yet 
such  a horse  may  even  continue  to  do  a good  deal  of  work ; 
but,  sooner  or  later,  this  kind  of  treatment  produces  the 
most  disastrous  results  ; gourdy  legs  and  greasy  heels  are 
induced,  and  a premature  breaking  up  of  the  horse’s 
strength  is  the  inevitable  consequence. 

The  ventilation  of  stables  is,  comparatively  speaking,  a 
modern  improvement ; for  it  was  not  till  nearly  the  close 
of  the  last  century  that  public  attention  was  called  to  the 
evil  consequences  of  the  system  previously  adopted — that 
of  closing  up  every  aperture  by  which  air  could  enter,  and 
rendering  the  stable  more  like  a hot-bed  than  a resting 
place  for  animals  which  breathed  and  required  a pure  at- 
mosphere to  breathe  in. — Before  this  period,  no  groom 
ever  thought  of  admitting  fresh  air  into  a stable  ; some 
thought  it  of  no  use,  while  others  considered  it  as  highly 
pernicious.  Mr.  J.  Clarke,  of  Edinburgh,  was  the  first  to 
protest  against  close  stables,  as  an  unhealthy  and  perni- 
cious custom  ; and  no  sooner  was  the  subject  inquired 
into,  than  it  was  ascertained  that  at  least  one  half  of  the 
diseases  to  whicli  horses  were  so  commonly  subject,  were 
produced  by  close,  hot,  unventilated  stables. 

In  guarding  against  this  evil,  however,  its  opposite  must 
be  avoided;  stable-men  generally  understand  that  warmth  is 
congenial  to  the  nature  of  horses,  and  argue  that,  to  look 
well,  a horse  must  be  kept  warm.  This  is  in  part  true 
but  not  wholly  so  ; we  recommend  warm , but  not  foul  sta- 
bles : — this  is  the  great  distinction  that  should  be  kept  in 
mind;  foul  stables  are  always  hot, — but  warm  stables  need 
not  be  foul ; — it  is  the  impurity  of  the  atmosphere  of  the 
stable  that  does  the  mischief ; and  it  is  this  very  impurity 
that  we  strongly  insist  upon  as  the  evil  which  must  be 
avoided. 

No  breathing  animal  can  continue  in  the  enjoyment  of 
good  health,  without  a constant  supply  of  pure  air:  this 
truism  is  the  basis  of  ventilation.  Pure  air  is  composed  of 
two  gases,  termed  nitrogen  and  oxygen,  in  the  proportion 
of  about  two  parts  of  the  former  to  one  of  the  latter.  An 
animal  in  breathing  inhales  the  oxygen,  which  is  absolute 
ly  essential  to  its  well-being,  and  which,  passing  into  the 
lungs,  purifies  the  blood:  the  same  animal  .gives  out  anJ 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER  S GUIDE. 


283 


other  sort  of  gas,  which  is  expelled  by  his  nostrils,  termed 
carbonic  acid  gas,  and  which  contaminates  and  makes  im- 
pure the  air  into  which  it  is  breathed.  Without  a contin- 
uous supply  of  good  air,  it  is  impossible  for  the  purity  of 
the  atmosphere  of  the  stable  to  be  maintained  ; and  unless 
it  be  kept  up,  the  blood  of  the  animal  which  inhales  an 
impure  air,  becomes  vitiated,  and  the  system  diseased;  or, 
in  other  words,  the  horse  becomes  predisposed  to  a num- 
oer  of  diseases,  and  his  constitution  is  readily  acted  upon 
by  any  change  in  the  weather,  or  other  exciting  causes, 
that  under  a more  healthy  state  of  the  blood,  would  not  af- 
fect the  animal. 

Having  shown  some  of  the  evil  consequences  of  a want 
of  ventilation,  we  now  proceed  to  advise  as  to  how  this  de- 
sirable end  may  be  obtained.  Many  grooms  acknowledge 
that  the  stable  is  too  hot ; and  to  remedy  the  inconvenience, 
make  holes  in  the  door  or  walls,  to  cool  it.  Now  this  is 
only  an  aggravation  of  the  previous  evil : it  is  not  cold 
draughts  of  air  that  will  do  any  good — they  rather  do  mis- 
chief in  producing  colds,  coughs,  and  a host  of  other  disea- 
ses of  the  chest  and  lungs  : it  is  the  purification  of  the  at- 
mosphere that  is  required,  that  the  horses  may  breathe  a 
pure  and  not  a tainted  air. 

We  have  shown  that  the  atmosphere  of  a stable,  under 
the  most  favourable  circumstances,  does  not  contain  moie 
than  one  part  out  of  three  of  pure  oxygen,  the  gas  essen- 
tial to  health  and  life  ; we  have  also  shown  that  the  horse 
inhales  a portion  of  this  oxygen  every  time  he  breathes, 
and  that  he  exhales  from  his  lungs  another  kind  of  gas, 
termed  carbonic  acid  gas,  which  mixes  with  the  air  of  the 
stable,  and  deteriorates  its  purity.  Ventilation,  properly 
effected,  will  remedy  this  defect,  or  impurity,  by  allowing 
the  escape  of  the  impure  air,  and  substituting  good  in  its 
stead. 

The  impure  air  which  is  exhaled  from  the  horse’s  lungs, 
is  necessarily  warmer,  and  of  course  lighter,  than  the  sur- 
rounding atmosphere ; for  this  reason,  it  ascends  or  rises 
upwards  : if  there  be  means  for  its  escape,  it  will  do  so ; 
*f  there  are  no  such  means  of  escape,  it  becomes  cooler 
and  so  soon  as  it  loses  its  heat  it  descends,  mixes  with  the 
air  which  fills  the  lower  part  of  the  stable,  and  is  breathed 
and  re-breathed  again  and  again,  until  so  ’ittle  pure  oxy- 
gen is  left  in  the  air  of  the  stable,  that  the  quantity  which 


284 


THE  STABLE 


die  animal  economy  demands  cannot  be  furnished,  and  the 
blood  becomes  impure. 

To  furnish  means  for  the  escape  of  impure  air,  make  ap- 
ertures,  or  holes,  from  eight  to  ten  inches  square,  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  walls,  one  to  each  stall.  In  cases  where 
a loft  is  over  the  stable,  these  apertures  should  be  convey- 
ed through  the  roof,  which  is  easily  accomplished  by  pie- 
ces of  zinc  pipe  ; by  this  means,  the  foul  air,  in  its  escape 
from  the  stable,  will  not  affect  the  hay.  If  it  be  not  con- 
venient to  make  an  aperture  for  each  stall,  at  least  take 
care  to  make  one  at  each  end,  and  if  possible,  one  in  the 
middle  of  the  roof  or  ceiling ; in  this  case,  each  aperture 
should  be  rather  larger  than  the  size  previously  given, — if 
there  are  but  two,  let  them  be  at  least  double  the  size ; if 
three,  let  each  be  about  two-thirds  the  size ; and  so  on, 
that,  in  effect,  they  will  furnish  as  much  room  as  is  equal 
to  a square  space  of  nine  inches  for  each  horse  kept  in  the 
stable.  The  apertures  or  ventilators,  when  only  nine  in- 
ches either  way,  will  not  require  any  covering,  except 
when  the  stable  is  occupied  by  less  than  one  half  the  num- 
ber of  horses  usually  kept  therein,  or  quite  empty  ; but  it 
will  be  as  well  if  the  larger  spaces  be  made  somewhat  in 
this  form,  / ^ because  that  shape  will  keep  out  the  cold 
air,  while  it  will  not  in  the  least  affect  the  escape  of  the 
impure  air.  It  need  hardly  be  said  each  tube  or  hole  that 
is  exposed  to  the  open  air,  should  be  defended  by  a cap  or 
cover,  thus  : J ^ 

But  it  is  not  only  necessary  to  provide  for  the  escape  of 
foul  air,  it  is  also  essential  that  a stream  of  pure  fresh  air 
should  be  provided,  in  order  to  replace  the  wast  of  oxygen 
by  breathing. — This  may  be  effected  by  a long  tube  or  pipe 
running  the  whole  length  of  the  stable,  and  open  at  both 
ends,  the  ends  being  outside  the  walls,  and  defended  from 
vermin  by  a grating  at  each  end.  Along  the  upper  part 
of  tnis  tube,  a number  of  small  holes  must  be  perforated, 
which  will  admit  pure  air  into  the  stable  without  inconve- 
niencing the  horse ; for,  of  course,  it  should  not  be  placed 
at  that  part  of  the  stable  fronting  the  head  of  the  horse  ; 
but  at  the  back  of  the  stable,  with  the  space  intervening  be- 
tween that  and  the  stalls.  The  ventilation  will  by  these 
simple  means  be  complete,  and  the  healthful  operations  of 
the  animal  economy  ensured. 


TTIE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE.  285 

The  hay-loft,  the  granary,  or  corn-bin,  and  the  manger, 
all  demand  notice ; but  in  the  present  work,  where  space 
is  limited,  a general  notice  will  be  sufficient.  The  hay, 
whether  kept  in  a loft  over  the  stable,  or  over  the  coacn- 
house  (which  latter  is  preferable),  should  be  free  from  taint 
or  smell,  and  be  often  turned,  so  as  to  keep  it  sweet  and 
ffiesh.  The  granary,  or  corn-bin,  should  be  kept  free  from 
dust,  which  is  apt  to  accumulate,  if  not  occasionally  cleaned 
out.  The  manger,  or  trough,  which  contains  the  corn  in- 
tended for  the  horse’s  food,  is  usually  made  of  wood  ; we, 
however,  prefer  those  constructed  of  iron,  something  of  a 
stove-grate  form,  and  fixed  to  one  of  the  upper  ends  of  the 
stall.  The  manger  should  be  kept  clean  ; unless  it  is  so, 
it  contracts  a fetid  sour  smell,  or  becomes  musty  ; and  in 
either  case  a horse,  particularly  if  of  a delicate  stomach, 
may  be  prevented  from  feeding.  Care  and  cleanliness  will 
prevent  this.  Mangers,  if  made  of  wood,  are  often  as  long 
as  the  stable  : this  is  unnecessary  ; thirty  inches  length  is 
amply  sufficient : but  in  depth  they  are  rarely  enough  , 
they  should  be  at  least  twelve  inches  deep,  and  of  about 
the  same  breadth.  It  should  not  be  flat  at  bottom,  either 
within  or  without ; a flat-bottomed  manger  injures  the  horse 
about  the  head  when  rising,  and  about  the  legs  or  knees 
when  pawing : from  these  reasons,  it  is  best  if  concave 
within,  and  convex  without. 

Previously  to  bringing  a horse  to  your  stable,  you  should 
enquire  how  he  has  been  generally  treated  ; for  too  great 
a change,  either  in  his  food  or  treatment,  may  operate  in- 
juriously. Horses  purchased  from  a dealer  have  most 
probably  been  kept  in  a warm  stable,  and  been  fully  cloth- 
ed, highly  fed,  and  rarely  exercised  : — -they  may  have  fine 
coats,  be  in  high  spirits,  and  look  lusty  and  well ; but  they 
are  often  totally  unfit  for  work,  are  easily  heated  by  exer- 
tion, and  subject  to  take  cold  upon  the  slightest  change  oi 
temperature.  To  prevent  this,  make  yourself  acquainted 
with  the  particulars  necessary,  and  act  accordingly,  suu- 
'•ecting  him  hy  degrees  to  your  peculiar  mode  of  treai 
meat. 


GROOMING. 


CHAPTER  V. 

GROOMING. 

To  enable  the  stable-man  to  do  justice  to  the  horsee  an 
ler  his  care,  he  must  be  allowed  the  usual  stable  impie 
ments,  as  pails,  brushes,  brooms,  forks,  sponges,  combs, 
towels,  horse-clothes,  &c. — it  will  then  be  his  fault  the 
horses  do  not  receive  the  attention  they  require.  The  skil1 
and  care  of  the  groom  may  be  estimated  by  the  conditior 
and  general  well-being  of  the  horses  ; if  they  look  well,  the 
care  of  the  groom  need  not  be  doubted. 

The  duties  demanded  of  a groom  vary  materially ; in 
some  places,  he  has  charge  of  two  horses  only — one  for 
his  master  and  another  for  himself : at  others,  he  may  have 
two  horses  and  a gig  ; or  even  three  horses.  Two  horses 
are  usually  deemed  a sufficient  number  for  a groom  to  look 
ifter  ; but  three  can  be  well  taken  care  of.  Should  there 
*)e  a fourth  horse,  the  groom  will  then  require  the  assis- 
Cance  of  a stable-boy,  who,  under  direction  and  discipline 
if  a good  groom,  soon  becomes  an  useful  helpmate,  and 
attains  to  a very  good  knowledge  of  stable  duties. 

One  of  the  essential  qualifications  either  for  a groom  or 
stable-boy,  is  a patient,  unvarying  kindness  to  the  horses 
under  his  care  : another  equally  important  feature,  is  clean- 
liness, not  only  as  regards  the  horse,  but  also  as  to  the  sta- 
ble, as  well  as  in  himself;  for  to  keep  the  horse  and  the  sta- 
ble clean,  involves  the  whole  duty  of  the  groom, — a duty 
easily  learned  when  inclination  and  perseverance  step  in  to 
give  effect  to  practical  instruction. 

Our  remarks  for  the  proper  performance  of  the  stable 
duties,  will  commence  with  the  morning,  and  proceed  with 
the  usual  daily  routine  ; embracing  some  useful  sugges- 
tions as  to  the  general  treatment  of  horses  on  being  brought 
in  after  a ride,  a drive,  or  the  completion  of  his  usual  daily 
task. 

The  groom  should  be  in  the  stable  at  least  an  hour  be- 
fore the  horse  is  wanted  : he  should  then  give  the  horse  a 
little  water,  and  his  morning  feed  of  corn  : during  the 
time  the  animal  is  eating  his  breakfast,  his  litter  should  be 
ebook  up,  and  the  stable  swept ; which  when  done,  it  wiP 


THE  HORSE-KEEPERS  GUIDE. 


287 


be  tine  to  dress  the  horse,  or  to  take  him  to  exercise. — 
This  method  of  procedure  will  vary  with  the  seasons : in 
summer,  it  will  often  be  advisable  to  exercise  the  horse  a 
little  before  breakfast,  giving  him  water  in  the  stable,  or 
while  out,  and  his  corn  at  returning ; but  in  winter,  he 
should  be  dressed  in  the  morning,  and  exercised  or  pre- 
pared for  work  in  the  forenoon  : at  mid-day  he  is  again 
fed.  During  the  remainder  of  the  day.  the  horse  should 
receive  another  dressing,  and  be  again  exercised,  unless 
he  has  to  go  out  upon  the  road. 

Horses  for  gig  or  road  work  are  usually  fed  four  times 
a day  ; saddle-horses  have  three  feeds  in  the  course  of  the 
same  period. — Where  lour  feeds  a day  are  allowed,  they 
should  be  given  at  stated  periods,  say,  the  first  in  the  mor- 
ning, again  at  noon,  the  third  at  or  about  four  o’clock,  and 
the  last,  or  supper,  about  eight  or  nine  o’clock,  when  the 
stable  should  be  closed,  and  the  horse  left  for  the  night. — 
If  but  three  feeds  only  be  ordered,  let  them  be  given  at 
morning,  noon,  and  night. — The  daily  allowance  of  corn 
for  a horse,  supposing  the  animal  to  be  of  a medium  size 
and  capacity,  should  be  from  twelve  to  sixteen  pounds  per 
day;  and  for  every  pound  of  barley,  beans,  or  other  simi- 
lar food,  given  to  the  horse,  about  the  same  quantity  of  oats 
should  be  deducted  : the  whole  quantity  is  to  be  divided 
into  nearly  equal  portions,  and  one  part  given  at  each  time 
r f feeding.  Barley  usually  weighs  about  fifty  pounds  to 
“he  bushel,  while  oats,  unless  unusually  heavy,  rarely  ex- 
ceed forty  pounds.  Roots,  such  as  carrots  and  potatoes, 
where  they  can  be  steamed  and  given  warm,  form  an  ex- 
cellent change  in  the  dietary  of  the  stable.  Barley  and 
cut  straw  is  another  useful  substitute  : but  in  this  case,  the 
barley  should  be  steeped  in  water  ten  to  twelve  hours  be- 
fore it  is  given.  A post-master  at  Southampton  is  said  to 
have  kept  his  horses  upon  this  kind  of  food  for  a long  pe- 
riod ; and  it  is  ascertained  that  they  worked  as  well  or  bet- 
ter upon  this,  than  when  they  had  so  much  oats. — Two 
pecks  of  barley  and  one  bushel  of  straw  were  the  daily 
allowance. 

Every  horse  should  be  dressed  at  least  once  a day,  be- 
sides the  cleaning  which  is  given  after  work  ; by  this  means 
the  skin  is  kept  in  good  order,  and  the  friction  exerts  a ben- 
eficial influence  upon  the  pores,  conducive  alike  to  health 
and  appearance.  The  operation  is  simple,  and  is  perfor- 


288 


BROOMING. 


med  by  means  of  a brush,  a cuirycorr  b,  and  a wisp  of  straw 
or  norsehair.  The  brush  removes  the  dust  or  other  matter 
which  adheres  to  the  roots  of  the  hair,  and  fills  the  pores  of 
the  skin.  The  currycomb  serves  to  raise  and  separate  the 
hairs  that  become  matted  together  by  perspiration  and  dust. 
The  wisp  may  be  considered  as  a duster;  it  removes  the 
lighter  dust  and  loose  hairs  not  taken  away  by  the  brush; 
polishing  the  hair,  and  rendering  the  skin  smooth  and  glos- 
sy. The  brush,  as  before  observed,  penetrates  to  the  roots 
of  the  hair,  and  clears  the  skin;  while  the  wisp  acts  on  the 
surface,  and  cleans  and  polishes  the  nair.  It  is  also  used 
to  raise  the  temperature  of  the  skin,  and  dry  the  hair,  when 
the  horse  comes  in  cold  and  wet. 

In  dressing  a horse  in  the  stable,  the  groom  removes  its 
litter  to  the  head  of  the  stall,  and  turns  round  the  horse,  tc 
have  his  head  to  the  light.  With  the  brush  in  one  hand, 
usually  in  the  left,  and  the  currycomb  in  tne  other,  he  com- 
mences on  the  left  side  of  the  horse,  a.nd  goes  on  till  the 
head  and  fore-quarter  are  finished;  his  hands  then  change 
tools,  and  the  like  duty  is  performed  to  the  right  side  oi 
the  horse. 

Much  care  and  patience  are  necessary  to  clean  the  head 
properly,  the  hairs  running  in  such  various  ways,  added 
to  the  inequalities  of  the  face  requiring  more  nicety  than 
any  other  parts,  excepting  the  feet ; the  horse  is  also  some- 
times impatient  of  his  head  being  so  long  under  the  groom’s 
hands  : from  these  reasons,  it  is  often  too  much  neglected 
by  careless  grooms;  which  should  never  ho  permitted.— 
The  dust  about  the  roots  of  the  hair,  inside  and  outsido 
the  ears,  is  removed  by  a few  strokes  of  th.  * trTsh  ; but 
the  hair  itself  is  polished  by  quickly  and  iVD'Vtidly  draw* 
ing  the  hands  over  the  entire  ear. 

The  whole  of  the  fore  part  of  the  horse  being  completed, 
the  horse’s  head  is  again  turned  towards  the  i larger,  arid 
secured  there,  that  the  body  and  hindquarters  may  receive 
heir  share  of  attention.  It  is  usual  to  throw  a little  straw 
under  the  hind  feet,  to  keep  them  off  the  stones.  The 
clothes  should  now  be  taken  to  the  door,  and  shaken  ; and, 
.f  dry  weather,  exposed  to  the  air  while  the  horse  is  dressing 

Every  part  of  the  body  having  undergone  the  required 
brushing  and  currycombing,  the  dust  being  entirely  remo 
ved  from  the  skin,  and  the  hair  well  polished,  the  who. 
body  should  be  passed  over  with  the  wisp,  and  then'th 


THE  HOUSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


269 


most  laborious  part  of  the  dressing  is  concluded.  The 
Dorse’s  clothes  are  now  put  on  ; his  mane,  foretop,  ana 
tail,  combed  and  brushed  so  as  to  hang  equally  and  grace- 
fully ; the  eyes,  nostrils,  muzzle,  anus,  and  sheath,  are 
carefully  wiped  with  a damp  clean  sponge  ; and  the  feet 
picked  out,  and,  if  necessary,  washed.  Should  the  legs  be 
soiled,  or  wet  with  urine,  wash  them  with  warm  water  and 
soap,  and  rub  them  till  perfectly  dry.  When  the  legs  do 
not  require  washing,  they  should  be  well  brushed,  and  pol- 
ished partly  by  the  wisp,  but  chiefly  by  the  hands  : the 
bed  being  then  looked  to,  the  horse  is  done  up  foi  the 
morning. 

When  the  weather  is  fine,  and  not  'too  cold,  it  will  be 
preferable  to  perform  the  operation  of  dressing  out  of 
doors.  But  wherever  done,  it  should  be  done  properly. 
Idle  and  careless  grooms  rarely  take  the  necessary  trouble  ; 
hence  they  should  be  looked  after,  and  made  to  do  that 
which  a sense  of  duty  ought  to  be  enough  to  prompt.  It 
is  not  enough  that  the  surface  of  the  horse  be  cleaned  ; the 
wisp  is  all  very  well,  but  the  brush  is  essential ; the  skin 
may  look  clean  and  glossy  ; but  if  the  brush  has  not  been 
used  as  it  ought  to  have  been,  the  neglect  may  be  easily 
detected  if  the  finders  of  the  hand  be  rubbed  over  and  in- 
to  the  horse’s  skin  ; if  insufficiently  performed,  a white 
greasy  stain  will  be  communicated,  which  will  never  be 
the  case  if  the  horse  has  been  well  and  thoroughly  dressed. 

When  the  horse  is  about  changing  his  coat,  either  the 
brush  or  the  currycomb  should  be  very  lightly  used ; at 
this  time,  a damp  wisp  will  be  sufficient  for  all  essential 
Purposes,  until  the  new  coat  has  grown  sufficiently. 

The  ears  and  legs  require  most  looking  to;  they  should 
oe  often  inspected,  and  the  groom’s  attention  directed  par- 
ticularly to  them.  Where  the  horse’s  legs  have  but  little 
hair  on  them,  they  require  a good  deal  of  hand-rubbing : 
and  on  no  account  should  the  legs,  particularly  when  of  a 
’vhite  hue,  be  suffered  to  become  discoloured  by  dung  or 
urine  being  allowed  to  dry  on  them. 

Viciousness  in  horses  should  be  controlled,  if  it  cannot 
be  wholly  prevented  ; or  a groom  may  suffer  severely  from 
a bite  or  a kick,  that  may  injure  him  for  life.  Biting  may 
oe  prevented  by  putting  on  a muzzle  ; or  by  tying  his  head 
up  so  elevated  as  to  check  this  propensity.  Kicking  horses 
are  most  dangerous  : they  require  great  care  on  the  part 


290 


GROOmiMu. 


of  the  groom,  as  they  sometimes  strike  out  so  quickly  a<  d 
so  maliciously,  that  the  groom  is  in  great  danger.  A swucn 
held  in  the  hand,  in  the  view  of  a kicker,  and  lightly  ap 
plied  whenever  he  attempts  to  kick,  may  be  useful ; out 
generally  speaking,  the  groom  must  try  his  best  to  soothe 
and  coax  the  horse,  and  get  over  the  business  as  expedi- 
tiously as  he  well  can.  The  arm  strap  is  sometimes  used; 
but  this  is  so  often  productive  of  injury  to  the  horse  by 
throwing  him  down,  that  we  will  not  further  recommend 
or  describe  it. 

Dressing*  after  work  is  essential,  and  should  not  be  ne- 
glected or  slovenly  done.  The  process  itself  necessarily 
varies  : horses  that  have  been  merely  slowly  worked,  only 
require  to  be  dried  and  cleaned ; those  that  have  been  at 
fast  work,  require  more  attention.  In  winter,  the  horse 
comes  off  the  road,  heated,  wet,  and  muddy  ; and  in  sum- 
mer, he  is  hot,  drenched  in  perspiration,  his  coat  matted, 
and  sticking  to  the  skin  ; at  times  he  may  be  cool,  but  wet 
and  wretchedly  muddy.  In  summer,  after  easy  work,  his 
feet  and  legs  should  be  washed  and  dried,  and  his  body  diess- 
ed  in  the  usual  manner.  The  wisp  dries  where  perspira- 
tion has  moistened,  the  mud  is  removed  by  the  currycomb, 
and  the  brush  polishes  the  hair,  and  lays  the  dust.  When 
thoroughly  wet  from  rain  or  perspiration,  he  must  be  dried 
by  means  of  the  scraper  and  the  wisp  ; and  when  heated, 
he  must  be  walked  about  till  cool,  and  then  cleaned  ana 
dressed. 

The  scraper  is  a very  useful  instrument : the  groom,  ta- 
king it  in  his  hands,  passes  over  the  neck,  back,  belly, 
quarters,  and  sides — every  place  where  it  can  operate ; ana 
with  a gentle  steady  pressure,  he  removes  the  wet,  mud, 
rain,  and  perspiration  ; the  legs  are  dried  by  a large  sponge, 
being  apt  rather  to  be  injured  by  the  scraper  : when  thus 
treated,  the  horse,  if  hot,  should  be  walked  about  a little  : 
if  cool,  he  must  be  wisped  and  dried. 

No  horse  when  perspiring  copiously,  after  work,  should 
be  stabled  or  suffered  to  stand  still ; he  being  then  especi- 
ally susceptible  of  cold,  or  inflamed  lungs.  These  evils 
may  be  prevented  by  keeping  in  gentle  motion  till  cool. — 
The  action  of  the  heart,  an  I the  nerves,  and  their  numerous 
auxiliaries,  has  been  considerably  increased,  in  their  en- 
deavours to  aid  the  extraordidary  muscular  exertion  de- 
manded by  the  task  to  which  the  horse  has  been  put  to. 


THE  HOESE- KEEPER'S  guide. 


291 


The  circulation,  excited  to  a violent  extent,  does  not  tran- 
quillize itself  so  readily  when  exertion  ceases  ; the  hear! 
and  the  internal  organs  acting  in  unison,  continue  for  a 
time  the  same  energetic  action  which  severe  exertion  re- 
quires, and,  unless  care  be  taken  to  prevent  it,  inflamma- 
tion ensues,  from  the  irregularity  in  the  distribution  or  cir- 
culation of  the  blood.  Motion,  gently  kept  up  for  a while, 
prevents  this,  from  the  reason  that  it  keeps  up  the  circula- 
tion of  the  blood,  and  tends  to  lay  the  extraordin<  >ry  excite- 
ments to  which  the  entire  system  has  been  subjected.  As 
soon  as  the  pulse  indicates  a more  natural  coolness,  say 
under  forty  pulsations  in  one  minute  of  time,  further  mo- 
tion may  be  suspended,  and  the  operation  of  cleaning  and 
putting  the  animal  to  rest  may  be  commenced.  The  heat 
of  the  skin  is  not  a safe  criterion — the  state  of  the  pulse  is 
the  only  safe  guide.  The  horse  should  be  led,  not  ridden. 

There  are  other  cases  in  which  walking  a horse  just  re- 
turned from  work,  is  useful,  besides  when  violently  heated 
from  exertion.  In  rainy  weather,  he  may  be  quite  wet, 
but  not  heated  ; should  there  be  no  one  at  hand  to  dry  his 
skin,  he  will  soon  begin  to  shiver.  In  any  such  case,  walk 
the  horse  about  for  a time ; for  were  he  to  stand  at  rest 
while  in  this  state,  a severe  cold,  and  all  its  unpleasant  con- 
sequences, would  most  probably  be  the  result.  This  case 
is  exactly  analagous  to  where  an  individual  stands  still  in 
his  wet  clothes ; and  the  result  in  both  instances  are  very 
nearly  the  same.  The  best  way  to  dry  a wet  horse,  is  to 
rub  him  with  wisps ; this  however  requires  both  strength 
and  experience  to  do  well ; an  idle  or  a neglectful  stable- 
man may  rub  a horse  for  an  hour  or  more,  and  yet  not  halt 
dry  his  skin.  First,  with  the  scraper,  take  away  all  the 
water  you  can  ; then  rub  the  skin  with  soft  wisps,  often 
changing  them,  that  the  moisture  may  thereby  be  absorb- 
ed : the  legs  and  under  part  of  the  body  should  be  especi- 
ally looked  to.  When  the  horse  is  thus  dried,  there  is  lit- 
tle probability  of  his  catching  cold;  the  friction  of  the  wisp 
keeps  up  the  circulation  of  the  blood,  and  the  horse  may  be 
put  up  without  any  fear  of  mischief  accruing. 

It  may,  however,  happen  that  a heated  or  wet  horse  can- 
not be  immediately  attended  to,  nor  kept  in  motion.  In 
such  a case,  give  him  a scraping,  to  remove  the  worst  01 
the  wet  or  perspiration,  and  theT-  clothe  him  ; this  will  ren- 
der him  much  less  likely  to  tak  cold,  and  may  be  cl  nsid 


SROOMINC. 


'292 

ered  as  an  expedient  to  be  resorted  to  in  extreme  cases, 
but  only  to  be  continued  so  long  as  the  stable-man  is  pre 
vented  from  giving  the  necessary  grooming  to  the  horse 
the  moment  the  stable-man  is  at  liberty,  let  all  due  attention 
be  given. 

The  legs  of  horses  are  most  particularly  subject  to  dirt 
and  mud  ; hence  they  often  require  washing,  which  is  fre- 
quently done  by  stable-men,  but  unfortunately  they  rarely 
take  the  trouble  to  dry  them  ; they  are  suffered  to  dry  of 
themselves ; the  consequence  is,  evaporation  commences, 
and  although  the  inflammation  which  ensues  may  be  al- 
layed by  subsequent  treatment,  yet  greasy  heels  are  too 
commonly  induced  by  this  mode  of  treatment.  There  is 
but  one  way  to  avoid  these  mischiefs,  and  that  is,  either  be 
sure  to  dry  the  feet  whenever  you  wash  them,  or  do  not 
wash  them  till  you  can  dry  them. 

The  bed. — A good  bed  is  essential  to  a hard  or  fast- 
working horse,  and  the  best  material  for  it  is  wheat-straw 
or  oat-straw ; the  straw  or  haulm  of  beans  or  pease  will 
not  make  a good  bed,  and  can  be  more  advantageously 
. sed  as  fodder. 

A bed  is  not  well  made  unless  it  is  as  level  and  even  as 
a mattrass  ; nor  should  it  h&ve  any  lumps  or  perceptible  in- 
equalities in  it.  If  the  straw  be  cut  into  twro  by  a hay- 
knife,  it  will  spread  the  better.  Spread  the  litter  well  out, 
and  let  it  be  levelled  on  the  top,  and  square  behind  : it 
should  slope  from  each  side,  and  from  the  head,  towards  the 
centre.  If  an  inexpert  stable-man  have  to  do  this,  let  him 
be  properly  taught — let  him  learn  how  to  use  the  fork,  and 
how  to  spread  the  litter.  Let  him  have  a pattern-bed  made 
in  an  adjoining  stall  by  an  experienced  hand,  and  let  him 
copy  this ; a week's  practice  this  way  will  be  quite  enough; 
if  he  do  not  learn  in  that  time,  he  is  not  worth  any  further 
teaching. 

The  soiled  litter  and  dung  should  be  removed  every 
morning,  unless  the  horses  are  going  to  work ; in  which 
case  it  may  be  delayed  till  they  are  gone.  The  dry  litter 
should  then  be  thrown  forward,  and  the  wet  and  soiled  lit- 
ter carefully  removed  to  the  manure  heap,  or  put  out  to 
dry ; the  stalls  and  gangways  may  then  be  swept  well  out, 
and  now  and  then,  if  necessary,  and  the  weather  be  fine 
and  dry,  a pail-ful  of  wat  r m?y  be  thrown  down,  to  rende* 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


293 


the  cleaning-out  more  perfect.  After  the  stall  is  dry,  spread 
the  dry  litter  well  out,  and  add  to  the  top  as  much  fresh 
clean  straw  as  is  required  to  make  up  a good  comfortable 
bed. 

Once  a week,  or  thereabout,  all  the  bed  should  be  *aken 
away,  and  entirely  renewed  ; but  never  cover  wet  and 
soiled  litter  with  clean  straw — it  is  a lazy  and  a dirty,  as 
well  as  a wasteful  practice. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

TREATMENT  OF  THE  FEET. 

Every  time  that  a horse  comes  in  from  work,  be  sure  to 
examine  his  feet,  particularly  the  fore  feet,  for  it  often  hap- 
pens that  a stone  gets  fixed  in  between  the  shoe  and  the 
frog,  and  if  suffered  to  remain  there,  even  for  a few  hours, 
may  cause  a bruise  or  lameness,  which  a little  care  may 
prevent : indeed,  whatever  gets  into  the  foot,  whether  sand, 
gravel,  or  stone,  should  be  carefully  removed ; this  will 
take  but  a few  minutes,  and  will  pay  well  for  the  little 
trouble  it  occasions. 

Stopping  the  feet,  is  only  practised  on  the  fore  feet, 
and  when  judiciously  performed,  is  attended  with  very 
good  effects  : but  if  the  sole  is  flat  and  thin,  it  will  be  best 
avoided : the  less  moisture  such  a formed  foot  receives, 
the  better,  as  it  makes  the  sole  yield  too  readily,  and  may 
tend  to  lame  the  horse.  A mixture  of  clay  and  cow-dung 
is  the  stopping  mostly  used  : clay,  itself,  is  too  hard  ; tow 
is  often  used  for  gig  and  road-horses,  or  horses  that  have 
thrushy  feet : moss  is  also  useful  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  manner  of  stopping  a horse's  feet  is  to  fill  the  sole 
so  as  to  be  on  a level  with  the  shoe  ; tow  or  moss  should 
oe  put  in  dry,  and  water  poured  on  it  once  or  twice  a 
day,  according  to  the  moisture  required.  The  object  of 
stopping  a horse's  feet  is  to  prevent  the  sole  becoming 
hard  and  frigid  from  being  too  dry,  and  so  laming  the 
horse. 

Some  horses  require  their  feet  to  be  stopped  much  oft- 
ener  than  others ; as  a general  rule,  stop  a horse's  feet 
the  night  previous  to  his  being  shoed  ; once  a week  wiL 
generally  be  found  sufficient : from  Saturday  night  till  Mon 
25* 


294 


treatment  of  the  feet. 


clay  morning,  is  a very  good  time  to  apply  the  stoppir  ^ , 
but  in  hot  summer  weather,  twice  or  three  times  a week 
will  not  be  found  too  often. 

It  is  sometimes  the  practice  to  anoint  the  crust  or  wall 
of  the  foot,  that  is,  the  part  of  the  hoof  which  presents  it- 
self to  the  eye,  when  the  horse  is  standing  on  his  feet : 
whether  this  plan  is  good  or  not,  depends  on  the  foot  it- 
self. To  render  a rigid,  strong  foot  elastic,  the  horn  should 
be  saturated  with  water  : and  to  keep  it  elastic,  the  oint- 
ment should  be  applied  before  the  water  evaporates ; 
while  to  keep  a thin,  weak  foot  hard  and  unyielding,  with- 
out making  it  brittle,  an  ointment  should  be  used  to  pre- 
vent the  absorption  of  water.  In  wet  weather,  a thin  foot 
should  be  oiled  before  the  horse  goes  out,  and  a strong 
thick  foot  after  the  horse  comes  in  : in  hot  dry  weather, 
the  ointment  should  be  renewed  every  second  or  third  day. 

The  oil  usually  had  for  this  purpose,  is  fish  oil,  for  an- 
n nting  the  hoof;  but  a mixture  made  of  equal  quantities 
of  tar,  lard,  oil,  and  bees’-wax,  is  a better  and  more  dura- 
ole  application. 

Shoeing. — The  proper  and  timely  performance  of  this 
necessary  operation,  is  of  the  utmost  consequence  to  the 
well-being  of  the  horse. — Generally  speaking,  a month  is 
the  time  between  the  last  and  the  succeeding  shoeing. 
Care  should  be  taken  every  time  the  horse  comes  in  from 
his  work,  to  examine  his  shoes  as  well  as  his  feet ; for  want 
of  this,  it  sometimes  happens  that  a shoe  drops  off  in  the 
middle  of  a journey ; not  only  is  time  then  lost,  but  the 
foot  becomes  injured,  and  probably  the  horse  lamed. 

Fast- working  horses  require  to  have  the  feet  pared  at 
least  once  a month,  without  reference  to  whether  they  need 
new  shoes,  or  not.  If  the  horn  be  suffered  to  grow,  the 
action  of  the  horse  becomes  impeded  ; he  cannot  step  out 
properly,  or  place  his  foot  firmly  on  the  ground ; from  this 
reason  it  is  necessary,  at  least  once  a month,  to  pare  off 
the  superfluous  horn,  unless  the  horse  should  be  one  having 
a deficiency  of  horn  ; in  which  case,  he  may  go  five  weeks 
or  even  more.  At  any  time,  should  there  be  a loose  or 
oroken  nail,  or  a clench  started,  or  if  the  horse  oe  cutting, 
call  in  the  farrier  at  once. 

The  shoe,  and  the  proper  time  and  mode  of  its  appli- 
cation varies,  in  accordance  with  the  weight  of  the  horse 
and  its  action,  particularly  with  reference  to  the  state  of 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


295 


file  roads,  and  the  nature  of  his  vvork. — This  part  ot  the 
subject  may  however  be  left  to  the  farrier,  who  will  be  but 
little  fit  to  be  intrusted  if  he  requires  to  be  told  what  *** 
do ; he  should  be  the  adviser,  not  the  advised. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

OBSERVATIONS  AND  SUGGESTIONS  RELATIVE  TO  THE 
DISEASES  OF  HORSES. 

It  is  the  usual  practice,  when  treating  of  the  diseases 
to  which  horses  are  subject,  to  give  a long  list  of  disorders, 
the  bare  perusal  of  which  might  induce  a belief  that  the 
stable  would  be  little  less  than  a hospital,  and  the  groom 
totally  inadequate  to  the  performance  of  his  proper  duties, 
unless  skilled  in  a knowledge  of  veterinary  practice.  We 
shall  avoid  this,  by  showing  the  cause  of  disease,  and  means 
of  prevention,  and  treat  the  subject  in  a manner  so  as  to 
enable  the  horsekeeper  readily  to  recognize  the  nature 
rather  than  the  name  of  the  disease,  and  instruct  him  in 
the  use  of  such  medicines  as  may  in  many  instances  be 
sufficient  to  arrest  the  complaint,  and  tend  to  restore  the 
healthful  functions  of  the  animal. 

Diseases  mainly  arise  from  obstructed  or  impaired  di- 
gestion. So  long  as  the  several  organs  of  the  animal  body 
continue  to  perform  their  due  and  proper  parts,  so  long 
may  health  and  strength  be  calculated  upon ; but  so  soon 
as  the  animal  economy  is  disarranged,  and  the  action  of 
any  one  or  more  of  the  organs  rendered  less  capable  of 
its  proper  energy,  a predisposition  to  disease  is  engendered, 
which  the  slightest  exciting  cause  may  bring  into  active 
Dperation. 

By  predisposition  to  disease , we  mean  that  state  of  the 
animal  system,  which  is  induced  by  bad  or  improper  food, 
by  want  of  proper  attention,  impurity  or  foulness  of  the 
stable,  exposure  to  variations  in  the  atmosphere,  or  other 
causes,  which  affect  some  organic  and  internal  part;  of  the 
animal  structure,  or  impair  the  purity  of  the  blcod  : in 
such  a case,  actual  disease  may  not  be  present,  or  at  leas! 
not  perceptible  by  any  outward  indication;  yet  the  slight 


296 


DISEASES  OF  HORSES. 


est  exciting  cause,  or  sudden  expo&ure  to  weather  checked 
perspiration,  or  the  like,  may  cause  a serious  indisposition, 
that,  under  a more  favourable  state  of  the  horse’s  consti- 
tution, might  probably  have  passed  over  without  leaving 
any  serious  proof  of  its  existence. 

Predisposition  to  disease  is,  then,  that  liability  of  the 
constitution  to  an  attack  of  illness,  which  care  and  atten- 
tion will  often  prevent;  but  which  neglect  or  bad  grooming 
at  once  induces  or  increases. 

We  have  before  noticed,  in  our  remarks  on  the  ventil- 
lation  of  the  stable,  that  pure  dry  air  is  essential  to  a 
healthy  state  of  the  blood ; we  need  scarcely  add  that 
good  nourishing  food  is  equally  essential  to  the  well-being 
of  the  animal ; to  understand  this  properly,  a few  words 
on  the  digestive  powers  of  the  horse  will  not  be  inappro- 
priate. 

The  food  taken  by  the  horse  is  gathered  up  by  his  lips, 
and  being  cut  by  the  action  of  the  front  teeth,  is  conveyed 
thence  to  the  grinders,  by  which  it  is  thoroughly  masticated 
or  chewed ; it  is  then,  by  the  united  action  of  the  tongue 
and  other  muscles,  conducted  to  the  gullet,  from  whence 
it  descends  into  the  stomach.  Here  it  is  acted  upon  by  a 
powerful  solvent,  provided  by  nature  for  the  purpose  of 
accelerating  the  digestive  operation,  called  the  gastric  juice, 
and  reduced  to  a pulpy  mass,  termed  chyme ; this  mass, 
yet  but  imperfectly  digested,  is  then  propelled  into  the  first 
Dowel,  where  other  intestinal  juices  commingle  with  it, 
md  perfect  the  digestive  process  ; it  is  now  termed  chyle  ; 
and  it  is  in  a state  ready  for  combining  with  the  blood. — 
The  chyle  now  enters  the  small  intestines,  and  is  conveyed, 
by  a peculiar  motion  of  the  bowels,  to  certain  minute  ori- 
fices, called  absorbent  vessels  : in  this  part  of  the  process 
the  pure  chyle,  now  a milk -like  fluid,  is  absorbed  by  these 
vessels  ; the  other  portion  of  the  food  eaten  by  the  animal, 
the  excrementitious  part,  having  had  all  the  nourishment 
extracted  in  the  course  of  the  digestive  process,  is  propelled 
by  the  same  peculiar  motion  of  the  bowels,  previously 
noticed,  along  the  whole  extent  of  tbe  intestinal  canal,  or 
gut,  and  ultimately  expelled  the  body. — The  pure  chyle 
.s  conveyed,  by  the  absorbent  vessels,  into  a large  receiv- 
ing tube,  called  the  thoratic  duct , from  which  it  is  received 
oy  a vein  near  the  heart,  and  taken  t ence  to  the  heart 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE. 


291 


itself;  from  whence,  after  being  acted  upon  by  the  vital 
air,  or  oxygen,  in  the  lungs,  the  blood  now  completely 
perfected,  is  received,  as  required,  by  the  left  ventricle , oi 
main  passage  from  the  heart,  and  conveyed  thence,  by  the 
circulating  channels,  over  the  whole  system. 

This  brief  description  of  the  digestive  process  is,  as  far 
as  possible,  divested  of  the  technical  names  of  the  several 
intestinal  organs  employed  or  engaged  during  the  diges- 
tive process  ; our  object  being  to  show  how  that  process  is 
conducted,  and  to  prove  from  thence,  that  if  bad  or  impro- 
per food  were  given  to  the  horse,  or  if  by  needless  ex- 
posure to  weather  while  the  animal  was  heated  by  exer- 
cise or  chilled  by  cold  and  wet,  some  one  or  other  of  those 
organs  were  to  be  affected,  either  by  its  action  being  im- 
paired, or  unnaturally  excited,  the  system  would  be  affec- 
ted, the  blood  vitiated,  and  the  health  of  the  animal,  there- 
by, materially  endangered. 

This  view  of  the  digestive  organs  of  the  horse  will  also 
enable  the  reader  the  better  to  judge  how  far  it  may  be 
safe  and  prudent  to  attempt  a cure,  without  calling  in  the 
aid  of  the  farrier  or  the  veterinary  surgeon.  As  a general 
rule,  it  may  be  observed,  that  in  diseases  of  a chronic  char- 
acter, that  is,  of  a slow  or  lingering  nature,  a greater  lati- 
tude lor  the  endeavour  to  cure  may  be  assumed ; but  in 
diseases  of  an  acute  kind,  that  is,  when  the  effects  are  im- 
mediate and  evident,  then  greater  care  should  be  exerci- 
sed ; and  unless  the  disease  quickly  yield  to  the  remedial 
endeavours,  proper  advice  should  be  called  in,  particularly 
in  a^ute  inflammatory  complaints,  where  the  attacks  are 
usuady  sudden,  rapid  in  their  progress,  and,  unless  soon 
checked,  often  dangerous  in  their  result. 

Catarrh,  Cold,  or  Chill. — A large  class  of  diseases 
may  be  included  under  these  general  terms ; far  although 
the  horse  may  have  what  is  usually  called  a cold  or  chill, 
yet  if  this  cold  or  chill  be  neglected  or  improperly  treated, 
fever  or  inflammation  succeeds,  which  may  terminate 
fatally,  or  leave  behind  a chronic  cough,  an  evil  that  should 
be  anxiously  guarded  against. 

Thefiist  observable  symptoms  of  a horse  being  thus  at- 
tacked, are — slight  shiverings  ; a discharge,  chiefly  watery, 
from  the  nose  ; the  eyes  become  similarly  affected , and,  as 
the  diseases  oroo^resses,  a cough  more  or  less  violent,  with 


298 


DISEASES  OF  HORSES. 


quick  pulse,  comes  on,  followed  by  sure  throat  and  eviueu. 
difficulty  of  swallowing ; the  discharge  from  the  nose  thick- 
ens, increases  in  quantity,  and  assumes  a yellow  appeal - 
ance. 

This  complaint  is  usually  cured  in  a few  days.  Confine 
the  horse  in  a stable  of  a mean  temperature,  say  of  from 
50  to  60  degrees,  as  shown  by  the  barometer,  and  clothe 
him  warmly.  If  he  be  in  good  condition,  take  from  him 
two  to  three  quarts  of  blood,  and  then  give  him  the  follow- 
ing mixture  : 

Fresh  powdered  aniseeds  and 

carraway-seeds,  one  ounce  each  ; 

Dover’s  powders,  - two  drams; 

Balsam  of  sulphur,  - - . two  ounces . 

Beat  the  balsam  of  sulphur  into  the  yolk  of  a hen’s  egg, 
and  then  add  the  powders,  mixing  all  well.  When  you 
give  it  to  the  horse,  give  it  in  a pint  of  warm  gruel  in  which 
two  table-spoonsful  of  treacle  have  been  stirred.  Repeat 
it  every  night,  or  on  alternate  nights,  for  thiee  times. — 
About  an  hour  after  the  drink  has  been  administered,  give 
the  horse  a warm  bran  mash  ; and  repeat  the  mash  two  or 
three  times  a day. 

If  the  cough  be  troublesome,  give  him  a pectoral  mix- 


ture, made  as  follo  ws  : 

Elecampane,  and  diapente,  each,  - - one  ounce ; 

Cream  of  tartar,  and  nitre,  each,  - - one  ounce; 

Tincture  of  opium, half  an  ounce. 


Beat  up,  as  in  the  former  case,  two  ounces  of  balsam  of 
sulphur  into  the  yolk  of  a hen’s  egg,  and  then  add  the  oth- 
er ingredients,  mixed  up  all  together  as  a kind  of  electua- 
ry.— Dissolve  it  in  a pint  of  warm  gruel,  and  give  it  to  the 
horse  in  the  morning,  fasting : do  not  give  him  any  food 
for  two  hours,  and  then  let  him  have  a mash  of  scalded 
bran  and  bruised  oats,  and  warm  water.  Repeat  this  every 
altera  ate  day,  for  three  times.  Clothe  him  warmly,  give 
him  warm  mashes  and  warm  water,  two  or  three  times  a 
day  ; and  use  him  to  a little  gentle  exercise,  by  walking 
him  out  for  a short  time  in  the  middle  of  the  day. 

Fever,  and  Inflammation. — In  our  account  of  the  pre- 
ceding disease,  we  stated  that  a cold  or  chill  was  usually 
attended  with  a fever  or  inflammation;  but  that  which  we 
are  now  about  to  describe  mostly  arises  from  excess  of 
olood,  and  is  usually  produced  by  removing  a horse  from 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER  3 GUIDE. 


299 


grass  and  putting  him  too  suddenly  into  a stable,  where  he 
is  fed  upon  oats  and  hay ; or  by  feeding  him  too  high,  with 
little  or  no  exercise. 

Fever,  when  thus  induced,  does  not  require  medicine  ; 
a copious  and  early  bleeding,  is  the  best  means  of  cure.— ■ 
Bleed  till  faintness  is  produced  ; from  one  to  two  gallons 
of  blood  should  be  taken.  A light  and  moderate  diet 
should  be  given  for  a few  days,  by  which  time  he  will  have 
recovered.  A dose  of  eight  ounces  of  Epsom,  or  Grlaub- 
er’s  salts,  may  be  given  with  advantage  the  day  after  the 
blood-letting,  and  repeated,  if  thought  useful,  o.n  the  fourth 
day.  Let  the  horse  be  kept  cool,  not  wari/.ly  clothed,  nor 
in  a stable  where  the  warmth  is  any  higjp  r than  temper- 
ate ; if  he  be  turned  out  into  a field,  when  the  weather  is 
favourable,  it  will  be  as  well. 

Inflammation. — -When  to  the  first  symptoms  of  this  dis- 
ease, usually  exhibited  in  a heaviness,  redness  of  the  mem- 
branes under  the  eyelids,  want  of  appetite,  and  disincli- 
nation to  motion,  that  of  delirium  or  madness  is  added, — 
when  the  horse  becomes  violent,  plunges  about,  and  en- 
deavours to  bite  every  thing,  inflammation  is  then  very  ac- 
tive in  operation,  and  must  be  checked. — In  this  case,  a 
horse,  after  a fit  of  delirium,  sometimes  falls  down,  as  if  ex- 
hausted, and  after  lying  for  a time,  gets  up  suddenly,  and 
becomes  as  violent  as  ever.  The  treatment  in  this  is  the 
same  as  in  the  previous  case,  early  and  copious  bleeding, 
but  to  a greater  extent;  he  must  now  be  bled  until  per- 
fectly free  from  delirium,  and  at  least  two  to  three  gallons 
of  blood  must  be  taken. — in  other  respects,  the  remedial 
treatment  may  be  the  same  as  in  the  preceding  case. 

Staggers. — This  is  also  an  inflammatory  disease,  but  is 
produced  by  very  different  causes  to  either  of  the  prece- 
ding : staggers  are  usually  the  consequence  of  improper 
feeding,  or  rather  of  unwholesome  food,  as  bad  or  foul  hay, 
or  rank  grass  ; and  are  evidently  induced  by  a cause  which 
impairs  the  digestive  system,  and  leaves  the  stomach  dis- 
tended with  undigested  food.  This  disease  is  called  by  a 
variety  of  names,  as  lethargy,  apoplexy,  epilepsy,  vertigo, 
convulsions,  &c. ; it  presents  itself  under  two  distinct  forms, 
which  may  be  described  as  sleeping  staggers,  and  mad 
staggers. 

When  the  sleeping  staggers  attack  a horse,  he  nangs  hn 
head  as  if  unable  to  hold  it  up ; is  dull  and  inactive,  and 
21 


300 


DISEASES  OF  HOASES 


frequently  falls  asleep,  even  while  eating,  and  with  the 
food  in  his  mouth  : he  reels  or  staggers  about,  as  if  intox 
icated,  and  sometimes  falls  down  insensible  ; the  eyes  ap- 
pear watery  and  inflamed,  and  often,  as  well  as  the  mouth 
have  a yellow  cast  about  them  : the  pulse  is  very  unequal 
now  slow,  and  then  quicker  than  usual. — When  to  thg 
watery  running  of  the  eyes  and  the  deep  stupor  which  at 
tacks  the  horse,  these  are  succeeded  by  paroxisms  of  vio- 
ence  and  delirium,  the  animal  plunging  about,  and  beating 
nimself  against  whatever  stands  in  his  way,  a wild  and 
anconscious  look  in  his  countenance,  the  disease  may  then 
oe  termed  mad  staggers , inflammation  of  the  brain  being 
now  present. 

As  soon  as  the  fit  or  attack  of  mad  staggers  is  over,  the 
norse  falls  down  as  if  quite  inactive  for  a few  minutes  ; 
nis  eyes  become  dim,  and  his  limbs  stretch  out,  as  if  dying  : 
nis  fits  however  soon  resume  their  impetuosity,  and  he 
becomes  more  furious  than  ever.  In  this  state  it  is  dan- 
gerous to  approach  him  , while  if  nothing  be  done  to  alle 
viate  the  disease,  it  terminates  fatally. 

The  best  remedial  treatment  for  this  disease,  in  either 
state,  is  early  and  copious  bleeding,  taking  from  four  to 
six  quarts  at  once,  and  again  in  five  or  six  hours,  if  neces- 
sary. Beat  up  into  a ball,  the  following  ingredients,  and 
give  it  immediately  after  bleeding  : 

Castile  soap, two  drams  ; 

Calomel  and  assafoetida,  each  - - two  drams. 

The  following  purgative  mixture  should  be  given  immedi- 
ately after  the  ball : 

Aloes, seven  drams ; 

Castile  soap  and  ginger,  each  two  drams ; 

Epsom  salts, four  ounces. 

The  aloes  and  ginger  should  be  powdered  together, 
when  well  mixed,  with  the  other  ingredients,  in  a pint 
and  a half  of  rue-tea ; simmer  the  whole  about  ten  minutes, 
and  give  it  milk-warm. 

The  mixture  will  assist  the  operation  of  the  ball,  and 
clear  the  stomach  of  the  undigested  mass  by  which  it  is 
clogged. — If  the  medicine  fails  to  operate  briskly,  within 
ten  or  twelve  hours,  the  rectum,  or  last  bowel,  from  which 
.he  dung  is  voided,  should  be  emptied  by  a small  hand; 
>md  the  following  clyster  administered: 

Water,  warm, one  gallon; 


THE  HORSE-KEEFEK  6 GUIDE. 


301 


Glauber’s  salts,  and  treacle,  eacA,  four  ounces ; 

Sweet  oil, half  a pint. 

The  treacle  and  salts  should  be  dissolved  in  the  warm 
water,  and  the  oil  then  addea. 

Before  this  clyster  is  adm-mstertu  the  lump  of  undi 
gested  matter,  hardened  aunar.  tse  chief  cause  of  the 
disease,  should  oe  taken  away  : to  uc  diis,  let  a small  hand 
be  dipped  in  the  clyster,  or  with  sweet  oil,  ana 

gently  passed  the  fund&irent  it  feels  the  dung, 
which  it  should  .hen  bring  away.  Then  administer  the 
clyster  with  a p . a about  tweive  inches  long,  and  a strong 
bladder,  with  tka  clyster  in  :t,  fixea  at  one  end,  througl 
which  the  clystet  should  be  fcrcea  cy  twisting  the  bladdei 
with  your  hanas  As  soon  as  it  is  L-assed  into  the  horse 
take  away  the  pipe,  and  instantly  no-d  a wisp  of  straw  t< 
the  fundament  ^*r  about  ter  imnu^s.  This  is  a bettei 
way  of  administering  a clyster  tnan  when  given  by  a sy 
ringe. 

Inflammation  of  the  Intestines. — Like  the  prece 
ding,  this  is  an  inflammatory  complaint,  and  has  a number 
of  names,  as  ententes,  gripes,  inflammatory  colic,  &c. — 
Over  exertion,  sudden  change  of  temperature,  drinking 
cold  water  while  heated,  or  greedily  eating  of  new  hay, 
grass,  or  new  corn,  may  induce  it ; l it  as  it  impairs  the 
healthful  action  cf  the  intestines,  it  must  be  removed,  or  it 
increases  in  virulence  and  ofter  tem,  iates  fatally. 

The  presence  of  the  complex*,  ns^  ally  first  exhibiting 
only  windy  colic,  is  indicated  I;  die  i.  rse  often  lying  down, 
and  suddenly  springing  up  again  ; he  refuses  his  food, 
stamps  with  his  t jre  feet,  and  strikes  his  belly  with  his  hind 
feet ; his  body  is  convulsed,  his  eyes  turn  up,  and  his 
limbs  stretch  out  with  a spasmodic  motion  : his  ears  and 
feet  are  sometimes  hot  and  again  cold ; he  falls  into  a pro- 
fuse perspiration,  which  is  succeeded  by  shivering  fits ; his 
endeavours  to  stale,  evidently  painful,  are  without  success  : 
he  continually  turns  his  head  towaic&  Ms  flank,  as  if  point- 
ing out  the  seat  of  pain  ; he  tien  falls  down,  rolls  over  and 
turns  on  his  back. 

The  more  advanced  stage  of  die  complaint  is  attended 
with  fever,  heat  and  dryness  cf  the  mouth,  tongue  white 
skin  hot  and  dry,  except  about  me  ears,  which  are  mostly 
cold ; continued  pain  in  the  belly  : ne  lies  down,  and  rises 
again  suddenly,  but  in  this  stage  of  the  disease,  he  does 
26 


i02 


DISEASES  OF  HORSES. 


not  turn  on  his  back  ; pulse  quick  and  small ; and  breath 
ing  short  and  quick. 

If  the  pulse  be  quick,  hard,  and  small,  and  any  fever  ex 
aibit  itself,  then  the  inflammation  has  attacked  the  intes- 
lines,  and  the  remedial  means  must  be  immediately  ap- 
plied : of  these,  copious  bleeding  is  the  first  and  most  ef- 
ficacious : five  or  six  quarts  of  blood  should  be  taken  at 
once  ; and  if  the  symptoms  do  not  abate,  the  bleeding 
should  be  repeated  a second,  third,  and  even  a fourth  time  ; 
but  not  so  copiously  as  at  first,  the  quantity  being  reduced 
vo  quarts,  and  at  last  to  as  many  pints.  After  the  first 
(deeding,  give  him  a clyster,  in  the  very  same  manner  as 
"ecommended  in  the  preceeding  complaint,  (page  76),  the 
email  hand  befmg  used  to  remove  the  hardened  dung,  which 
IS  almost  always  present  in  these  cases. — Repeat  the  clys- 
ter every  three  hours,  for  two  or  three  times,  till  success- 
ful. 

As  soon  as  the  first  clyster  is  given,  prepare  and  give 
lie  following  drink  : 

Castor  oil,  (by  weight)  - twenty-four  ounces  ; 

Tincture  of  opium,  - - half  an  ounce  ; 

Warm  gruel, one  quart. 

Repeat  this  about  twelve  hours,  if  a passage  through  the 
ntestines  be  not  previously  obtained. 

When  the  feverish  heat  has  abated,  the  appetite  partial- 
y returned,  and  the  horse  in  a fair  way  of  recovery,  the 
Allowing  restorative  drink,  given  milk-warm,  will  be  use- 


ful: 

Aniseeds,  and  carraway-seeds,  each,  - half  an  ounce  ; 
Ganger  and  Castile  soap,  each,  - - - half  an  ounce  ; 

Nitre  and  Peruvian  bark,  each,  - - - one  ounce ; 

Tincture  of  opium,  ------  two  drams  ; 

Lenitive  electuary, four  ounces. 


Mix  these  ingredients  in  a quart  of  warm  gruel,  and  give 
t every  morning  or  every  other  morning,  fasting,  cor  three 
}r  four  times. 

Jaundice,  or  Yellows. — This  is  not,  like  the  preced- 
ng,  an  inflammatory  disease,  but  arises  from  a morbid  or 
mperfect  action  of  the  kidneys.  The  use  of  the  kidneys, 
u the  animal  structure,  is  that  of  absorbing,  and  passing 
Dfl’ to  the  bladder,  the  urinary  fluid,  which,  if  not  removed, 
would  produce  disease ; an  increased  action  thrown  on 


THE  HORSE-KEEPEll’s  GUIDE. 


302 


the  kidneys,  as  well  as  giving  bad  oats  or  musty  hay,  or 
fresh  green  tares  in  too  great  a quantity,  causes  inflamma- 
tion of  the  kidneys  or  bladder,  or  both ; which  we  shall 
presently  notice. 

The  Yellows,  or  Jaundice,  is  a disease  which  rarely  ap- 
pears by  itself ; it  is  usually  accompanied  by  some  disease 
of  the  internal  organs  : its  principal  symptoms  are — a yel- 
lowness in  and  about  the  mouth,  and  the  inner  parts  of  the 
eyes  and  eye-lids ; the  urinary  fluid  is  of  a similar  colour, 
and  the  dung  generally  hard  ; the  animal  is  dull  and  hea- 
vy, loses  his  appetite,  has  usually  a low  fever,  and  becomes 
weak  and  spiritless. 

To  cure  this  disease,  first  bleed  the  horse,  more  or  less, 
according  to  the  fulness  of  blood  in  the  animal,  or  extent 
of  the  fever  ; but  not  copiously,  unless  inflammation  be  in- 
dicated by  the  pulse  being  quick  and  strong,  and  the  ex- 
tremities be  unusually  cold  ; in  such  cases,  bleed  more  co- 
piously, and  afterwards  inject  the  clyster  in  the  way  pre- 
scribed in  page  76,  repeating  it  once  or  twice  in  the  same 
day.  About  two  hours  after  the  bleeding,  give  a ball  made 
up  of  the  following  ingredients  : 

Barbadoes  aloes,  - two  drams ; 

Powdered  myrrh  and  Castile  soap,  each  two  drams  ; 

Colomel,  ------  half  a dram  ; 

Tartarised  antimony,  - one  dram. 

Make  it  up  into  a ball  with  honey,  and  repeat  it  once  a day 
until  it  purges  ; after  which,  if  fever  still  exists,  give  the 
following  fever  ball : 


Antimonial  powder,  - 

Castile  soap  and  camomile  powder,  each 

Camphor  and  honeys  each,  - 

Nitre,  ------ 


two  drams  ; 
- two  drams ; 
one  dram  ; 
half  an  oz. 


Mix  the  several  ingredients  into  a ball  with  honey,  and 
give  it : repeating  it  a second  or  third  time,  which  will 
generally  be  found  sufficient. 

Should  the  bowels  have  been  relaxed  from  the  begin- 
ning, do  not  give  the  ball  with  the  aloes,  but  substitute  the 
following  instead  : 

Cascarilla,  powdered,  - - two  drams; 

Tartarized  antimony,  - one  and  a half  dram 

Opium,  - - - - one  dram : 

Calomel  - - - half  a dram 


DISEASES  OF  HORSES 


.304 

Form  it  into  a ball  with  honey,  ana  repeat  it,  daily,  till  the 
bowels  are  restored  ; when  you  may  give  the  fever  jail 
above  prescribed. 

Diabetes. — This  is  another  disease  of  the  kidneys,  in- 
duced by  feeding  on  musty  oats,  or  bad  hay,  or  by  too  fre- 
quent a repetition,  by  the  groom,  of  the  medicine  termed 
“ diuretic  balls,”  which  some  are  particularly  partial  to 
giving,  it  differs  from  the  preceding  disease,  the  jaun- 
dice, that  being  a morbid  or  sluggish  action  of  the  kidneys, 
hi  which  the  secretion  of  urine  is  not  sufficiently  active  ; 
while  in  diabetes , the  vei  * opposite  is  the  case;  here  the 
kidneys  may  be  said  to  do  more  than  their  healthy  duty, 
and  produce  too  copious  an  evacuation  of  thickened  mat- 
ter, rather  than  the  usual  thin  watery  urine  of  health. 

The  best  way  of  curing  this  disease,  is  to  allow  the  horse 
but  little  drink,  and  give  him  a change  of  food,  and  that  of 
the  best  quality  : should  too  free  a use  of  diuretic  medi- 
cine have  been  a producing  cause,  then  a few  small  doses 
of  aloes,  given  in  combination  with  stomachics,  and  repea- 
ted till  the  bowels  be  opened,  may  produce  the  desired  re- 
sult ; or  the  following  stringent  ball  may  be  given  with  the 
oest  effects : 

Galls,  and  alum,  finely  powdered,  each,  two  drams ; 

Peruvian  bark,  - - - half  an  ounce. 

Make  it  into  a ball  with  honey,  and  repeat  it  every  morn- 
ing, and  if  the  disease  be  obstinate,  twice  a day,  about  eve- 
ry twelve  hours,  until  the  urine  be  diminished  to  its  usual 
and  natural  quantity  and  quality. 

In  all  cases  of  these  kinds,  after  much  medicine  has  bsei. 
given  to  operate  upon  the  bowels,  the  following  restora- 
tive ball  may  be  administered  with  advantage  : 

Powdered  ginger,  - two  drams ; 

Gential  root,  powdered  - - half  an  ounce ; 

Alum,  ------  one  dram. 

Made  into  a ball  with  treacle,  and  repeated  two  or  three 
times. 

Inflammation  of  the  Lungs. — The  term  by  which 
this  disease  is  known  among  medical  men,  is  Pneumonia. 
Its  first  appearances  are — a shivering  fit,  extreme  duiness, 
unwillingness  to  move,  loss  of  appetite,  and  quickened 
wreathing.  If  not  removed,  more  decided  symptoms  sue 
<?eed ; as  coldness  of  extremities,  oppressed  nulse,  expand 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER'S  GUIDE. 


305 


ad  nostrils,  considerable  heaving  of  the  flanks,  purple  tinge 
of  the  nasal  membrane,  redness  about  the  eye,  a fixed  wide 
position  of  the  fore  quarters ; should  he  attempt  tc  lie 
down,  a great  difficulty  of  breathing ; countenance  beto 
kening  pam,  and  mouth  hot  and  dry. 

The  causes  of  this  disease  are,  usually, — immoderate  ex 
ertion,  and  suddenly  suppressed  perspiration,  induced  by 
sudden  changes  from  heat  to  cold,  or  the  contrary.  The 
best  method  of  cure  is  to  bleed  freely,  from  one  to  two  gal- 
lons taken  quickly  from  a large  orifice,  to  give  immediate 
relief  to  the  head  and  arteries  : in  six  or  eight  hours  bleed 
again,  but  in  less  degree.  If  the  horse  faint  before  you 
take  the  quantity  of  blood,  pin  up  the  orifice,  and  give  a 
clyster  (see  page  76),  repeating  it  once  or  twice,  if  neces- 
sary ; and  if  the  bowels  be  not  opened  soon,  give  also  the 
following  drink : 

Epsom  salts,  - - - six  ounces ; 

Castor  oil,  ....  four  ounces ; 

Coarse  sugar,  - three  ounces. 

Beat  up  the  yolk  of  an  egg  into  a pint  and  a half  of  tea,  then 
well  mix  up  the  above  ingredients  into  it,  and  give  it  milk- 
warm.  But  if  the  bowels  be  not  bound,  then,  instead  of 
the  above,  give  the  following : 

Nitre,  - half  a dram ; 

Digitalis,  - one  dram ; 

Emetic  tartar,  - two  drams  2 

Made  into  a ball  with  aromatic  confection. 

The  horse,  especially  in  winter,  must  be  kept  warm,  not 
oy  hot  air,  but  by  a body  cloth  and  hood,  and  his  legs 
should  also  be  bandaged, — hot  air  acts  as  a kind  of  poison, 
on  fevers  or  inflammations,  and  increases  every  kind  of 
inflammation ; pure,  cool,  dry  air,  will  assist ; and  in  the 
course  of  a day  or  two  the  symptoms  will  abate,  and  the 
appetite  will  return. 

Farcy. — This  is  a disease  of  the  absorbents — those  in- 
ternal organs,  the  proper  action  of  which  carry  on  tha 
digestive  process,  and  promote  the  animal's  health  ; but 
which,  when  impaired  or  diseased,  produce  a derangement 
of  the  healthy  functions,  and  terminate  in  some  chronic 
disease,  or  end  in  death.  The  pecul/ar  characteristic  of 
farcy  is,  that  it  is  the  first  symptom  of  a disease,  which  if 
not  the  same  as  glanders,  is  marked  in  several  respects  a* 
26* 


306 


DISEASES  OF  HORSES 


very  similar,  and  ultimately  terminates  m that  contagious 
arid  incurable  scourge  of  the  stable. 

The  first  appearance  of  farcy  is  indicated  by  small  tu 
mours,  or  hard  lumps,  with  a sort  of  communication  like 
corded  veins  ; these  lumps  usually  appear  on  the  inside 
of  the  thigh  and  fore  legs,  but  are  not  necessarily  confined 
to  these  parts,  sometimes  appearing  upon  the  shoulders, 
about  the  ribs,  on  the  cheeks,  and  other  parts  of  the  body. 
These  lumps  somewhat  resemble  what  are  termed  surfeit 
lumps , but  differ  from  them,  when  they  break,  in  not  gra- 
dually drying  up,  and  getting  well ; the  farcy  buds,  when 
they  burst,  forming  a small  peculiar  kind  of  ulcer,  which, 
if  not  removed  by  the  proper  means,  become  larger,  more 
numerous,  and  very  offensive,  until  the  horse  is  glandered 
— the  too  general  result  of  this  pestilential  disease. 

This  disorder  rarely  yields  to  medical  treatment,  from 
the  reason,  perhaps,  that  its  real  seat  is  internal,  and  has 
taken  hold  of  the  system  even  before  its  external  appear- 
ance is  indicated.  However,  as  it  has  been  successfully 
treated,  we  will  suggest  that,  if  the  horse  be  worth  the 
expense  of  a cure,  the  attempt  be  made  ; but  it  should  be 
under  the  advice  of  a veterinary  surgeon,  as  requiring 
more  skill  and  experience  than  usually  fall  to  the  share  of 
the  groom. 

Glanders. — This  is  the  most  malignant,  most  pestilen- 
tial, and  most  incurable  disorder  to  which  horses  are  sub- 
ject, and  is  as  fatal  to  them  as  hydrophobia  to  dogs  ; it  is 
also  highly  dangerous  to  the  stable  helpers,  being,  like  ca- 
nine madness,  communicable  to  the  human  subject,  and 
equally  fatal  to  them  as  to  the  animal  by  whose  deadly 
oite  the  inoculation  takes  place. — -Its  contagious  character 
is  another  of  its  fearful  accompaniments,  rendering  it  the 
bane  of  society,  the  scourge  of  the  stables,  and  the  ruin 
}f  many  a horse  proprietor. 

Our  suggestions  in  reference  to  this  pestilential  disease, 
will  be  as  to  the  means  of  prevention  or  detection ; for  as 
to  cure,  all  attempts  would  be  useless,  and  any  advice 
would  therefore  be  superfluous. 

The  principal  means  by  which  this  disease  is  communi- 
cated, is  by  contagion.  Hot,  impure,  and  dirty  stables, 
may  and  no  doubt  have  induced  it ; and  excessive  work, 
with  poor  living,  may  also  so  impair  the  animal's  constitu 
don  as  to  predispose  it  to  receive  this  or  any  other  info** 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER'S  GUIDE 


307 


tit  as  disease.  Supposing,  however,  the  horse  to  be  sound 
ani  moderately  well  kept  and  attended  to,  and  his  stable 
clean  and  well  ventilated,  we  may  then  assert  that,  althougl 
a horse  be  brought  into  immediate  neighbourship,  (as  in  a 
team  together),  but  not  into  actual  contact,  with  anothei 
attacked  with  glanders,  the  disease  will  not  be  communi- 
cated to  the  healthy  horse,  except  by  positive  contagion; 
or  rather  inoculation. 

Most  persons  understand  that  inoculation  means  the 
conveying  into  the  blood,  or  some  other  of  the  internal 
vessels  or  organs,  the  virus  or  matter  taken  from  some 
other  animal  or  subject. — Now,  in  the  case  under  conside- 
ration, we  will  suppose  that  the  infectious  matter  exists, 
and  may  have  tainted  the  water-pail,  the  manger,  or  other 
part  of  the  stall,  or  the  like,  particularly  as  the  running 
from  the  nose  of  the  glanderecl  horse  is  very  contagious. 
A sound  horse  is  introduced  into  the  stable,  and  drinks  out 
of  the  same  pail,  or  trough,  or  eats  from  the  same  manger, 
or  his  nose  touches,  or  he  rubs  himself  against  some  part 
of  the  stall  which  has  been  in  contact  with  the  diseased 
horse  ; the  moment  the  contact  takes  place,  the  absorbent 
or  sponge-like  action  ensues,  either  by  means  of  the  nos- 
tril receiving  the  infectious  virus,  or  some  part  of  the  skin 
oeing  injured,  the  inoculation  is  made,  and  the  sound  horse 
will,  in  a very  short  time,  exhibit  ample  evidence  that  the 
contagious  characteristics  of  this  fell  disease  have  been 
communicated. 

This  disease,  incurable  as  it  is  ascertained  to  be,  is  not 
noV^ever  equally  rapid  in  its  progress  in  all  horses ; in 
some  its  deleterious  poison  is  speedily  conveyed  over  the 
whole  system  in  a very  few  weeks,  and  the  result  is  speed- 
ily fatal ; while  in  others  it  progresses  so  tardily,  that  the 
animal  appears  scarcely  to  suffer  by  it  for  a considerable 
space  of  time  ; its  result,  however,  even  in  these  cases,  is 
equally  certain,  although  more  remote,  and  after  under- 
mining the  constitution  of  the  animal,  will  eventually  cause 
his  premature  dissolution. 

The  moment  that  glanders  is  believed  to  have  made  its 
appearance,  be  careful  to  separate  the  suspected  horse 
ftom  the  rest,  and  under  no  circumstances  permit  any  of 
the  others  to  come  in  contact  with  him  : the  manger  he 
eats  from,  the  pail  he  drinks  from,  the  brush  or  comb  used 
in  dressing  him,  must  all  be  kept  from  touching  any  other 


508 


DISEASES  OF  HORSES. 


horse,  la  a few  days,  perhaps  a week  or  two,  your  su» 
picions  will  be  removed  or  confirmed.  If  it  be  glanders, 
a perceptible  prostration  of  constitutional  vigour  will  be 
apparent,  the  membrane  of  the  nose  will  be  ulcerate^ 
and  will  have  a glutinous  discharge,  and  the  lunga  win 
subsequently  be  ulcerated  : little  if  any  fever  appears  in 
this  disease;  and  in  this  respect  it  differs  from  other  dis- 
eases in  which  the  nostrils  discharge  a mucous  (not  gluti 
nous^  lis*.harge.  A test  is  recommended,  to  prove  the 
fact  of  glanders,  or  net,  which  is  to  let  the  matter  from 
the  nose  drop  into  a pail  of  water- —if  it  be  glanderous, 
but  not  without,  it  will  sink  to  the  bottom.  This,  though 
not  an  infallible  test,  is  a very  good  one. — -However,  as 
soon  as  you  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  glanders 
really  does  exist,  call  in  the  veterinary  surgeon,  and  act 
under  his  advice  ; or  if  the  animal  be  not  worth  the  ex- 
pense likely  to  be  incurred,  (a  cure  cannot  be  for  a moment 
calculated  upon,)  let  the  next  consideration  be  to  terminate 
the  glanders  and  its  existence  together. 

Wounds — Having  treated  of  the  principal  internal  dis 
eases  of  horses,  we  shall  now  say  a few  words  on  wounds  . 
here  cause  and  symptoms  are  not  necessary,  the  wound 
furnishing  evident  proof  of  its  nature  and  existence ; our 
remarks  will,  therefore,  have  only  reference  to  the  means 
of  cure. 

Wounds  are — simple,  as  cuts,  or  the  like  ; or  compound, 
as  broken  and  lacerated  : the  first  are  easily  treated  ; lit- 
tle else  bemg  generally  necessary  than  to  bring  the  divided 
parts  together  carefully  by  means  of  the  needle  and  thread, 
and  a few  stitches  through  the  skin  only  : an  adhesive  plas- 
ter should  then  be  fixed  on  the  sides  of  the  wound  near  ics 
edges,  after  which  it  should  be  dressed  with  Friar's  balsam, 
or  tincture  of  aloes,  and  the  whole  secured  by  a bandage. 

Where  the  ends  of  the  wounded  skin  are  so  far  apart  as 
net  to  admit  of  bringing  them  together  by  the  needle  and 
thread,  apply  a poultice  or  fermentation;  and  if  the  part 
form  into  a swelling,  and  be  about  to  break,  you  may  accel* 
erate  this  by  using  the  following  digestive  linement : 

Olive  oil,  fresh  and  good,  - four  ounces  : 

Spirits  of  turpentine,  - - an  ounce  and  a half ; 

Tincture  of  camphor.  - - one  unce  ; 

Tinctuie  of  opium,  - - one  ounce. 


THE  HORSE-KEEPER’S  GUIDE 


309 


When  you  make  this,  mix  the  whole  well  together  with 
the  yolk  of  a fresh  egg,  and  bottle  it  for  use.  Apply  it 
freely,  warm,  to  the  wound,  but  do  not  touch  the  surround- 
ing swelling, — that  must  be  bathed  with  evaporating  lo- 
tion. When  the  wound  has  broken,  wash  the  part  clepn 
with  warm  water,  and  dress  it  daily  with  Friar’s  balsam.-- 
If  proud  flesh  appear,  it  must  be  kept  down  by  a careful  ap- 
plication of  some  caustic,  which  you  had  better  purchase 
where  you  can  ask  advice  how  to  use  it. 

Compound  or  fractured  wounds  required  a different  and 
more  careful  treatment;  and  the  aid  of  the  experienced 
farrier  or  veterinary  surgeon  ought,  in  these  cases,  to  be 
called  in, — it  is  generally  the  cheapest,  and  always  the 
safest,  mode  of  proceeding. 

If  the  horse  be  slightly  bruised  at  any  time,  the  follow 
mg  application  will  be  found  useful,  if  well  mixed  together 


and  applied  : 

Vinegar  and  spring  water,  each,  - - - six  ounces  ; 

Sal  ammoniac, two  ounces 

Tincture  of  camphor,  each two  ounces 

Tincture  of  aloes, one  ounce. 


Wounds  are  often  attended  with  local  inflammation 
that  is,  the  part  injured  becomes  hot,  swollen,  and  painful ; 
it  is,  in  this  case,  said  to  be  inflamed.  When  inflammation 
is  thus  local,  and  external,  warm  fomentations,  or*  poultices, 
(which  is  a kind  of  fomentation,)  or  cold  applications,  may 
be  applied  with  advantage,  according  to  circumstances. — - 
Fomentations,  by  opening  the  pores  of  the  skin,  promote 
perspiration,  and  so  decrease  the  swelling,  and  lessen  pain ; 
while  cold  applications  promote  evaporation,  and  so  assist 
m restoring  health  to  the  part  affected. 

Clean  hot  water  is  the  best  Fomentation  ; it  should  be 
used  as  hot  as  can  be  without  paining  the  horse ; continue 
to  foment  the  part  affected  for  some  time,  having  a fresh 
supply  of  hot  water:  half  an  hour  is  the  least  time  a fo- 
mentation should  be  continued.  A sponge  is  useful  to  to 
ment  with,  especially  if  the  leg  be  the  part  to  be  fomen- 
ted. 

Poultices  should  also  be  applied  as  warm  as  they  can 
be  safely  borne,  and  are  best  made  of  those  articles  which 
best  retain  heat  and  moisture.  Bran  mash,  mashed  turnips 
or  very  thick  oatmeal  gruel,  are  excellent  materials  foi 
poultices  ; linseed  meal,  alone,  make*  foe  best  pouicice,  and 


DISEASES  OF  HORSES 


aio 

some  of  it  should  always  be  added  to  any  other  ingre  iieirt 
Bandages,  warm,  often  renewed,  act  in  like  manner. 

Cold  water  is  a very  useful  Lotion;  a little  vinegar  may 
be  added,  to  promote  evaporation;  or  the  addition  of  a 
small  quantity  of  spirits,  as  brandy,  or  gin,  will  answer  the 
same  purpose. 

Bleeding — Is  useful  in  most  inflammatory  attacks, 
in  severe  wounds,  and  in  other  cases  when  fever  is  likely 
to  present  itself.  The  neck  vein,  and  the  thigh  vein,  are 
the  parts  from  which  the  greater  quantity  of  blood  may  b6 
taken  ; but  the  eye  vein  or  toe  vein  are  also  occasionally 
bad  recourse  to,  when  the  disease  requires  rather  local  blee- 
ding than  a copious  discharge  of  inflamed  or  heated  blood. 

Theoretical  advice  will  be  but  an  indifferent  guide  to 
the  proper  position  of  these  veins ; while  a few  practical 
lessons  from  an  experienced  person  will  tend  to  prevent  in- 
jury, and  teach  far  better  than  written  suggestions. 

The  natural  pulse  of  the  Horse  beats  from  35  to»45  in 
the  minute:  in  fever  and  inflammations,  it  rises  higher 
sometimes  to  80,  90,  and  even  100.  The  pulse  is  the  most 
important  indicator  of  any  deviation  from  health;  the  most 
convenient  spot  to  examine  it  is  at  the  edge  of  the  lowoi 
jaw,  a little  before  the  angle. 


Good  Ball  for  removal  of  Worms. 


Emetic  tartar,  - - 

Best  sulphur,  - - 

Ethiop’s  mineral, 
Powdered  cascarilla, 


ten  drams ; 
five  ounces ; 
three  ounces ; 
two  ounces. 


Mix  these  up  into  six  balls,  and  give  one  each  morning 
fasting ; let  the  horse  have  only  slightly  warmed  water  fox 
a few  days,  and  an  occasional  warm  mash. 

Do  not  work  him  much  while  he  is  under  this  treat 
znent. 


Purgative  Ball  for  a Horse. 

Barbadoes  aloes,  - - seven  drams ; 

Castile  soap,  and  ginovr,  o^h,  two  drams  ; 
Oil  of  aniseed,  - - * - twenty  drons. 


TEE  HORSE-KEEPI  r’s  GUIDE 


Mix  this  up  into  a ball  with  palm  oil  or  lard,  and  give  iv 
having  prepared  the  horse  for  it  by  warm  mashes  given  a 
day  or  two  before  the  purgative  ball,  and  give  him  only 
warm  water  to  drink,  and  a few  warm  mashes  after,  as 
well  as  before  the  medicine. 

A ball  is  a convenient  mode  of  administering  medicine 
to  horses  : it  should  be  made  of  the  size  of  or  rather  less 
than  a pullet’s  egg;  linseed  meal,  or  molasses,  may  be  ad- 
ded to  the  ingredients  of  which  the  physic  is  to  be  compo- 
sed, to  form  it.  In  giving  it,  let  the  horse  stand,  with  a 
halter  on  it,  with  its  head  turned  out  of  the  stall,  place 
yourself  before  the  horse,  and  let  an  assistant  stand  on  the 
left  side,  to  steady  the  horse’s  head,  and  keep  it  from  ri- 
sing too  high : sometimes  he  may  be  required  to  hold  the 
horse’s  head.  Seize  the  horse’s  tongue  in  your  left  hand, 
draw  it  out  a little,  and  place  your  little  finger  fast  upon 
the  lower  jaw  : with  your  right  hand  carry  the  ball  smartly 
along  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  and  leave  it  at  the  root  of  the 
tongue ; close  the  mouth,  and  hold  the  head  till  you  ob- 
serve the  ball  descend  the  gullet  on  the  left. — If  the  horse 
seems  loth  to  swallow  the  ball,  give  a little  water,  and  he 
ball  will  soon  die  appear. 


THR  RICD. 


■:k'i 


a 


4 


• «r 


* ^ 


< 


. 


♦ 


i 


.. 


9- 


